Former Meadowdale Elementary Principal Dan Davis has been reassigned to a $200,000 role within the Edmonds School District. The move comes amid significant controversy regarding how officials managed reports of inappropriate behavior by a special education teacher.
The $200,000 administrative role for Dan Davis
The Edmonds School District School Board recently gave unanimous approval to a new one-year assignment for Dan Davis. While Davis previously served as the principal of Meadowdale Elementary, his new position will focus on capital projects and the logistics of school construction, including the transition of middle schools for sixth through eighth graders.
Critics argue that this high-paying reassignment is a strategic attempt to maintain administrative stability rather than addressing the serious allegations of misconduct that occurred under Davis's watch. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from those who believe the district is prioritizing logistical continuity over accountability.
Daily misconduct allegations at Meadowdale Elementary
The controversy at Meadowdale Elementary centers on disturbing reports of inappropriate physical contact by a special education teacher. Ginnie Berry, a former substitute teacher who began working at the school in April 2022, alleges that she witnessed these incidents occurring on a daily basis.
According to the report, the teacher allegedly used manipulative tactics to isolate young children, including a six-year-old girl. Berry claims the teacher forced children into prolonged, uncomfortable hugs where their faces were pressed against the teacher's groin. Berry reported these observations to both Davis and district administrator Roger Jordan, who she says promised an immediate investigation.
A third-party review financed by the insurance risk pool
Transparency remains a major point of contention regarding the district's internal investigation into these claims. As the report notes, the third-party review was financed through the district's own insurance risk pool, a move that critics argue presents a fundamental conflict of interest.
Furthermore, the findings of this investigation have not been made public, leaving parents and advocacy groups in the dark.. This lack of disclosure has fueled suspicions that the Edmonds School District is attempting to bury the controversy rather than providing the transparency required to rebuild community trust.
Why no children were interviewed in the district's probe
Significant procedural gaps have been highlighted by those who first raiesd the alarm. Ginnie Berry alleges that the district's investigation was inadequate because it relied heavily on staff testimonies while failing to interview the children directly affected by the alleged behavior.
Additionally, Berry claims that parents were not initially notified of the incidents. While Berry fulfilled her legal obligations as a mandated reporter by involving the police, Child Protective Services, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the district's response remains under fire. The case, which reached former School Board President Nancy Katims in January 2024, continues to raise questions about the safety of the district's most vulnerable students.
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