Forks High School Library was the site of the Quillayute Valley School District Board of Directors' first regular session following the district's payment of $765,834.77 to resolve the Larson v. QVSD litigation, as well as a July 15 closed-door special meeting that concluded without action.
During the public comment portion of Tuesday night's meeting, a substitute worker and high school assistant cheer coach—also a district graduate—provided firsthand testimony regarding conduct similar to the evidence presented during the trial. The individual recounted participating in middle school track events and stated that the methods former head coach Brian Weekes used to stretch and handle her at age 13 "were not okay."
She detailed a subsequent high school incident where, after mentioning hip discomfort during practice, Weekes offered a massage. She was directed to lie down on the track, and he proceeded to rub around the back side of her hip.
According to her account, coaches Pam Gale and Kari Larson immediately crossed the track to interrupt the massage and reestablish boundaries between Weekes and the high school athletes.
Although the board offered to hear her account during executive session, she declined, stating she wished for the public to hear her story. She noted that she was residing out of state during the federal trial but would have testified had she been present.
She further stated that she personally knows other former athletes who were prepared to testify but ultimately withdrew. She reported that they expressed fears regarding potential retaliation against themselves and their families within the community from both the district and the town, though she clarified she was not accusing the board of creating that fear.
She asserted that their reluctance to come forward does not mean the conduct did not occur, telling the board, "I witnessed it."
A federal jury in Tacoma ruled in April that the district was liable for subjecting former assistant cross-country coach Kari Larson to a hostile work environment, awarding $250,000 under the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
The same jury declined to find the district or Weekes liable for retaliation and cleared Athletic Director and Title IX Coordinator Kyle Weakley of negligent supervision and retention claims.
Demands for Action, and a Board Response
Shannon Gaydeski returned to the podium to demand the board complete its reopened investigation of Weekes, which she said began April 20, within the 30-day window she cited under board policy 5011P.
She called on the district to fire Weekes for cause, file a report with the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, and refuse to let him resign or retire before the process concludes, citing Washington's 2004 "don't pass the trash" law, RCW 28A.400.301.
She also flagged that the district's anonymous reporting link on its website was broken, routing to an administrator login.
Pam Gale put the total public cost of the case at more than $1 million, a figure she said includes the judgment, the district's legal expenses, and what she described as more than $300,000 in administrative leave pay to Weekes over three years.
Wendy Larson, handed the board information on researcher Charol Shakeshaft's book "Organizational Betrayal," on how schools enable and can prevent educator sexual misconduct.
A violence prevention initiative known as Team Up Washington was highlighted during the meeting. The program, which provides training for coaches and athletes, is administered by the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence. A coalition representative noted that the Seattle Mariners are among the program's sponsors.
During the public comment segment, the board broke from its typical practice of remaining silent. A board director, Kevin Hinchen, responded to community concerns during the board reports. He described a significant gap in understanding between the governing body and the public regarding the district’s legal capabilities. Hinchen explained that the board is often restricted from discussing certain matters. He clarified that the perception of a lack of transparency stems from these legal constraints rather than a refusal to communicate.
The board proceeded to vote on several key items. Without any recorded opposition, officials adopted a resolution to place a $34 million, 25-year bond on the November ballot. The measure aims to replace Forks Middle School. District staff indicated that voter approval would secure approximately $21 million in state matching funds. They warned that if the measure fails in this cycle, the available state funding is projected to decrease by an estimated $5 million to $6 million. Additionally, the district requires existing debt to maintain eligibility for county timber revenue.
In other business, the board selected Interwest Construction to handle site work for the Spartan Fields project. The company submitted the apparent low bid with a base price of $4.353 million. The contract includes optional additions for future field lighting conduit and dugouts for baseball and softball. The installation of turf will be managed as a separate subsequent phase.
The governing body also approved a partnership with Central Washington University for a "College in the High School" program. Staff explained that this arrangement will allow Forks students to earn college credits at no tuition cost, potentially completing up to half of a bachelor's degree before high school graduation.
Finally, the board postponed the adoption of a new social studies curriculum for the middle school until August 11. The current instructional materials date back to 1997. Members requested additional time to review the proposed textbooks before casting their votes.