The reports issued by the Office of Civil Rights - known as OCR Reports - surrounding the sexual harassment claims by a number of Lake Arrowhead Elementary School students, and students of Charles Hoffman Elementary School in Running Springs, have become a lightning rod among parents disappointed in the manner in which officials of the Rim of the World Unified School District have handled the matter.

At a Tuesday meeting with over 20 parents at the Rim District offices with Superintendent of Schools Clint Harwick, and Assistant Superintendent of Personnel, Bryan Shaw, Shaw accused this newspaper of being one-sided and unfair in its reporting of the crisis in last week's edition.

Shaw made accusations that there was no balance in the story, and that the article was comprised of one-sided rumors and innuendo. He was especially vocal with his belief that the school district's position as stated in its press release was not covered.

In fact, Assistant News Editor Kristi Geske, who has investigated the story since this newspaper first learned of the harassment complaint nearly four weeks ago, told Shaw not only where the press release appeared in the story - a total of four major paragraphs which report the district's position verbatim - but also informed him of the numerous telephone calls, including times and dates, placed to Shaw, Harwick and Lake Arrowhead Elementary School Principal Debbie Wogen. The calls were made seeking direct comment on the allegations surrounding the complaints. No telephone calls were returned by Shaw, who is the Title IX Coordinator, and Principal Wogen merely referred Geske to the Rim District press release.

THE DISTRICT PRESS RELEASE

Many parents said they were insulted by the official press release from the school district.

"It totally negates what happened to our kids, and it is nothing but a complete whitewash," one parent exclaimed following Tuesday's meeting.

Another parent said Shaw and other district officials "should be ashamed of themselves" and that they "wouldn't be so quick to pass on the problem and sweep everything under the rug were it their own children being victimized."

Shaw remained adamant at Tuesday's meeting, and Superintendent Harwick said the problem is now under control at the Running Springs school. He said additional yard supervision, and "buddy system" trips to the bathroom will help keep the offending boy at bay.

The remainder of this article will contain relevant excerpts from the O.C.R. Reports, and the complete reports are available on the newspaper's website: www.crestlinecourier-news.com or www.mountain-news.com.

Readers may wish to read the entire Rim of the World School District press release and decide on the veracity of the district's statement. It is printed in full in this edition.

THE O.C.R. REPORTS

Relevant paragraphs from the O.C.R. Reports include:

""The issues OCR investigated were whether the district failed to respond adequately to complaints that the Student was subjected to ongoing sexual harassment by a male classmate... and whether the district provides prompt and equitable procedure for resolving complaints of sex discrimination."

"OCR concluded that the evidence showed the district was in noncompliance with Title IX and the regulation when it failed to respond appropriately to complaints of sexual harassment.

"The complainants further alleged, that though the District took some disciplinary measures against (the boy) in March 2004, (the boy) student subsequently sexually harassed other female students because the District did not adequately respond to their initial complaint of sexual harassment."

Later in its findings the OCR reports: "A prompt and equitable response also includes the provision of written notice of the findings, decision, and reason for the decision to the individual who complained which is required by the District's sexual harassment procedure. The District's procedures also require that the person accused of sexual harassment receive notice of the findings, decision and reason for the decision. The District agreed to address this issue (in the) Resolution Agreement.

"OCR notes that providing notice about the sexual harassment determination to the parents of an accused student of the same age as (the boy) may be an effective step towards preventing such a student from engaging in sexual harassment in the future because once on notice, the offending student's parents will have an opportunity to participate in addressing the behavior."

Again, the full unabridged text of both OCR Reports is available at the websites: www.crestlinecourier-news.com or www.mountain-news.com.

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