Public commenters urge stronger student-safety measures after Mark Morris incident

Public commenters sharply criticized the Longview School District board during the July 27 meeting, urging the board to improve transparency and investigations into allegations at Mark Morris High School and to adopt enforceable safeguards before approving new policy statements.

"An arrest is not a conviction, but it confirms that the warnings and oversight issued were serious," said Sean Gerben, who urged the board to postpone adopting new policy until the district establishes measurable standards for student protection, mandatory reporting, and records preservation. Gerben cited a timeline of events and alleged gaps in internal investigation and record-keeping.

Scott Beck, a coach and public commenter, told the board that federal law requires extracurricular coaches to complete annual mandatory-reporting training and to report allegations to police or child-protective agencies, not merely to supervisors. "This law covers extracurricular activities which require training, teaching, or performing outside regular school hours," Beck said, urging the board to ensure those responsibilities were followed in the district's response.

Board members did not take formal action on the allegations during the public-comment period; several speakers asked the board to commission an independent review identifying what each director knew and when. Acting Superintendent Beth said the district has engaged outside investigators and that the Haggard report will be released publicly when it is finalized, and that recommendations will inform any accountability steps.

The public-comment speakers also raised concerns about the board's use of personal and non-district email accounts, arguing that such practices risk incomplete public records and weaken transparency. Commenters asked the board to require that district business be conducted through district-controlled accounts and that records received on personal accounts be promptly preserved.