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Public commenter accuses Yelm district of mishandling abuse reports; board asks staff to provide timeline
Summary
During public comment, E. Wyatt Mandel accused the district of delaying mandatory reporting and cited RCW 26.44.030 and RCW 28A.400.317; the board asked administration to provide a timeline showing when CPS, police and the district's third‑party investigator were contacted.
At the public‑comment portion of the June 25 meeting, E. Wyatt Mandel addressed the board and Superintendent Woods with a formal reprimand alleging the district "chose to look inward" rather than immediately reporting student disclosures to outside authorities. Mandel referenced the federal indictment and arrest of former bus driver James Ruiz and said public records reveal a timeline inconsistent with mandated reporting.
Mandel told the board that the district’s handling violated state law and the district’s own policy: "The law is absolute. When an allegation of abuse or exploitation is made, a report must be made immediately to law enforcement or child protective services," and he cited the Revised Code of Washington, including RCW 26.44.030 and RCW 28A.400.317.
Board members listened without immediate debate and then moved into agenda business. During the board‑comment period later in the meeting a board member asked for a precise internal timeline of steps taken: when CPS was contacted, when Yelm Police was contacted, and when Clear Risk (the district’s third‑party risk management) conducted interviews. A district staffer responded that the district can provide those dates and said they would compile the timeline for the community.
The board did not take formal action on the allegation during the meeting; the district indicated it will provide the requested timeline and documentation to clarify when outside authorities and the district’s third‑party investigators were notified and what steps were taken.
Because the allegation concerns potential statutory duties and an ongoing law‑enforcement matter mentioned by the speaker, the board limited public comment to listening only and referred questions to administration for follow‑up.
The district did not dispute the public comment at the meeting but acknowledged the need to provide a clear timeline of notifications and investigations to the community. Board members and staff emphasized the importance of transparency while noting the limits of discussion in an open meeting when active investigations and legal processes may be involved.
