Snohomish School District students demonstrated in front of Snohomish High School Friday morning to protest sexual misconduct after a high school student said she was forcibly kissed in a hallway. (Isabella Breda / The Herald)

Snohomish School District students demonstrated in front of Snohomish High School Friday morning to protest sexual misconduct after a high school student said she was forcibly kissed in a hallway. (Isabella Breda / The Herald)

Snohomish High students walk out to protest sexual misconduct

Among other concerns, a 14-year-old student says she was forcibly kissed by a boy in the hallway.

SNOHOMISH — Dozens of students walked out of Snohomish High School in protest early Friday, demanding the school condemn sexual misconduct.

On Monday, a student reported another student forcibly kissed her friend, 14, in the hallway — sparking an online petition and student calls for the district to push back against “rape culture.”

Snohomish High School Principal Eric Cahan sent a statement to families via email on Tuesday.

“We take all matters and allegations such as this very seriously,” Cahan wrote in the email. “There is significant misinformation, gossip and rumor regarding this incident being shared throughout our community.”

On Wednesday, Cahan was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, district spokesperson Kristin Foley said. Monica Bauer, Snohomish School District executive director of teaching and learning services, stepped in as acting principal.

The 14-year-old girl’s mother, Betsy Rodriguez, told The Daily Herald she felt like she failed her child after she got a tearful call from her Monday afternoon.

“She called me seconds after. She ran to the bathroom crying,” Rodriguez said. “She was in complete panic mode.”

The student had left her fifth-period class to get water, she said in an interview. While at a vending machine, a male student she said she had never interacted with approached her and asked for her water, then her name and phone number.

“So I kind of stay silent and he grabs me and he kisses me,” the girl said. She said she tried to push him off.

Rodriguez said her daughter wrote an email to the superintendent making a plea for help on Tuesday.

The district reported the assault and Snohomish police showed up at her house Tuesday night, the girl said.

A Snohomish detective who specializes in sexual assault was assigned to the case and is investigating it like any other report, in coordination with the school district, said Courtney O’Keefe, spokesperson for the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

The family reviewed security footage of the incident Wednesday.

“I know my daughter and my daughter’s body language,” Rodriguez said. “She was really, really in distress. And I think anybody who sees this video will agree with me this child was in distress.”

The girl said re-living the assault on video was upsetting.

“I was on the verge of tears, but I didn’t really know what to say,” she said.

Meanwhile, students called for a walkout Friday morning.

“I’ve been so furious,” said Snohomish High student Samantha Burton, who took part in the protest. “It’s just brought up so much of my past. The mental abuse. The gaslighting, flat out manipulation — it’s just ridiculous.”

Students marched from the school to downtown Snohomish. They chanted “believe all victims,” wore teal shirts and ribbons in support of sexual abuse survivors, and carried signs with messages of solidarity including “#MeToo.” They were met with honks from supportive drivers.

A grandmother pulled over to tell protesters they were making the school district better for her 6-year-old granddaughter.

Many of the students at the walkout said they came in support of the teenager and others in the district who said they have felt unsafe in school.

Some students from Centennial Middle School joined the walkout.

“It’s important to make sure that people know that it’s not OK to do sexual harassment,” Centennial seventh-grader Addison Shivers said.

Parents stood alongside kids to demand safe schools.

“I expect them to do better,” said Kristine Norton, a Snohomish High School parent. “They need to listen to the victim.”

Snohomish School District students demonstrated in front of Snohomish High School Friday morning to protest sexual misconduct after a high school student said she was forcibly kissed in a hallway. (Isabella Breda / The Herald)

Snohomish School District students demonstrated in front of Snohomish High School Friday morning to protest sexual misconduct after a high school student said she was forcibly kissed in a hallway. (Isabella Breda / The Herald)

Rodriguez, the girl’s mother, said the district agreed to bring in a third-party investigator to review surveillance footage and claims the school mishandled its response.

“That investigation is continuing and as such no further details can be released at this time,” Foley said.

The student said staff did not explain the school’s investigation process to her, or what her next steps were.

“They just told me to come into the office and write a statement,” she said.

District policy outlines that all formal complaints must first be put in writing. Then a compliance officer investigates any written complaint of sexual harassment “that the officer believes requires further investigation.”

A written report must be provided to the superintendent for review. The superintendent needs to respond in writing to both the complainant and the accused within 30 days.

“I’m kind of at my wit’s ends with them,” Rodriguez said. “They’ve got to do something. I just pray this third party investigator they’re hiring does its job.”

The district must take “corrective measures” within a month of the superintendent’s response, unless the accused person appeals.

Isabella Breda: 425-339-3192; isabella.breda@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @BredaIsabella.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.