SEQUIM — The principal and head teacher of a Sequim-area private school who has been charged with 12 counts of sexual misconduct with children has been fired and replaced, the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists said.
Douglas J. Allison, 55, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree child rape and eight counts of child molestation, crimes the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office alleges he committed against two female students, ages 10 and 11, during classes at Mountain View Christian School.
A May 9 trial is scheduled. If convicted, Allison faces possible life in prison.
A pretrial status hearing in Clallam County Superior Court that had been scheduled for last Friday was postponed until 1:30 p.m. this Friday.
Allison remains in the Clallam County jail on $100,000 bail.
“The Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists initially placed Mr. Allison on administrative leave and barred him from campus; he was subsequently released from employment,” a news release from the church said last week.
Judy Allison — the other teacher at the small private school at 225 Medsker Road north of Sequim, which operates under the direction of Seventh-day Adventist Church — has taken a leave of absence for the rest of the school year, the release said.
New teacher hired
The School Board has hired Angie Campanello to teach for the remainder of the school year.
“Staffing plans are also in place to accommodate a wide range of grades,” the release said.
Campanello “has experience teaching all subjects from grades 1-8, has a master’s in literacy instruction, and had been currently teaching university-level literacy classes for students planning to become teachers,” it said.
The school hosted a parent-only workshop with two representatives of Healthy Families of Clallam County and individual counseling sessions were offered for families interested in additional assistance, the release said.
“While the full roster of students isn’t back in the classroom, we respect the right of our school families to determine the proper timing if/when their children are to come back to the MVCS campus,” it said.
“The School and Conference are fully cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation of the alleged conduct,” it said.
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Executive Editor Leah Leach can be reached at 360-417-3530 or at lleach@peninsuladailynews.com.
Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb and Reporter Rob Ollikainen contributed to this report.
