Back in May, we learned that officials in the North Bend School District in Oregon were accused of wildly discriminatory practices against LGBTQ students.
North Bend High School’s Principal Bill Lucero and school resource officer Jason Griggs were accused of telling a student she was going to hell for being gay, punishing LGBTQ students more harshly than other ones, and equating homosexuality to bestiality.
Students were also disciplined by having to read Bible verses.
And beyond that, Lucero’s own son lobbied anti-gay slurs and nearly ran over two gay students with his car. (The son denies these allegations.)
It was only because those two students, Liv Funk and Hailey Smith, told a friendly counselor about these problems that administrators finally took action.
In a settlement between the District and the ACLU of Oregon, Lucero and Griggs were removed from their jobs with the promise that Lucero would no longer work anywhere in the high school or as principal of the middle school. The ACLU’s director even said at the time that the settlement sent “a clear message to everyone at the district: If you break the law by discriminating against LGBTQ students or engaging in religious proselytization at school, there are serious consequences.”
Looks like the consequences aren’t that serious.
The District announced yesterday that, while Lucero would no longer be a principal, he would be reassigned next year as vice principal of the middle school.
The North Bend School District announced recently the following administrative changes have been made for the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Darrell Johnston, the current middle school principal, will be the Principal of North Bend High School. Mr. Ralph Brooks, the current middle school vice principal, will be the Principal of North Bend Middle School. Mr. Bill Lucero, the current high school principal, will be the Vice Principal of North Bend Middle School. Mr. Jake Smith will remain in his current role as Vice Principal of North Bend High School.
The District is confident that these new administrative teams will be able to successfully assist the District in moving forward. Our mission is navigating a successful course for every student, every day, every way.
While the reassignment doesn’t conflict with the settlement, it still raises all kinds of questions. Why would it be any better for Lucero to be in charge of even more vulnerable children? Especially ones who may not have the wherewithal to know who to inform when things go wrong? What are his thoughts about LGBTQ students today?
Read the full story at The Friendly Atheist
