Parents demand answers after alleged assault at Orangewood Elementary; board limits comment

Luis Acosta, a parent whose child attends Orangewood Elementary, told the Washington Elementary School District governing board on Nov. 20 that he learned about an alleged sexual assault at the school from a radio newscast rather than from the district and said parents had received “crickets” from district communications. “A little girl was raped, and what I heard from my school district were crickets,” Acosta said, urging the board to “take the steps necessary to fix these issues.”

Quay Paige, speaking as a social worker and mother, also said the incident “broke that trust” and asked how a child could have been assaulted on campus, why a classroom was left unattended, and what resources are being provided to the victim and families. “I demand answers and accountability because, respectfully, I don’t know how that happened,” Paige said.

President Kyle Clayton told the audience that “due to an ongoing legal investigation, the board is not able to comment at this time.” The board did not provide additional details in the meeting and did not announce specific next steps for parent notification during public comment.

The board received public comment and then proceeded with routine agenda business, including approval of elements of the consent agenda. Parents and community members in the meeting said they expected broader and timelier communications to families and urged the district to hold staff and administrators accountable where appropriate.

Next steps noted in the meeting record: public speakers requested clearer family notification practices and more visible accountability. The board did not adopt new policy or take formal action on the matter during this meeting; officials cited the ongoing investigation as the reason for limited public comment.