FORKS — The Quillayute Valley School District has admitted in a memorandum that Forks High School Principal Steve Quick should have acted differently when he removed a student from a basketball game played in Centralia on March 4.
That incident helped set off a firestorm of protest against the school’s administration — including two student walkouts on March 25 and April 1.
“The situation in Centralia could have been and, in hindsight, should have been handled differently,” the School Board wrote in the memo to the public issued in mid-April.
Board members were referring to an incident in which student Dana Wentworth was kicked out of Centralia High School’s gymnasium during a March 4 basketball playoff game after she made an offensive hand gesture to the car carrying Quick en route to the game.
For several weeks, Dana’s father, Hugh Wentworth, accused the principal of using poor judgment and asked that he be fired.
Wentworth also asserted that Quick grabbed his daughter by the arm.
Subsequent School Board meetings have attracted dozens of parents and citizens, many of whom paired the Wentworth incident with other criticisms and complaints aimed at the high school administration.
Many parents demanded that the administration improve its communication with students as well as parents.
Quillayute Valley School District Superintendent Frank Walter on Monday detailed what the School Board felt the principal did wrong, and answered some of the changes that have taken place in recent weeks.
Hindsight reveals mistakes
“Because it was an away game, it would have been better to wait until the following Monday morning and deal with [the discipline] here back at school,” Walter said, referring to the Dana Wentworth incident.
“That would have allowed for the opportunity to hear out all sides of the issue, and would not have [resulted in Dana] being put out of a game at an away location.”
When asked if any disciplinary action had been taken against Quick because of the incident, Walter said it was inappropriate to comment.
Walter did confirm, however, that Quick will undergo his annual evaluation in a matter of weeks.
“To the extent that public issues and meetings have shed additional light on [staff] performance issues, that’s been useful,” Walter said.
