It is with great sadness that I read the letter recently distributed to parents of children in the Vashon Island School District that details the estimated $22 million per plaintiff for the lawsuit against the district.

The amount bespeaks of a punishment, and lets be clear this is not the amount one asks to “teach a lesson” or make sure that problem solving occurs, but is a punishment on our whole island. At a time when our community cannot afford a health center and our museum and care center need funding, we are asked to come up with $44 million.

One could argue that the insurance company will pay and settle, yet, as we know, this is not without costs long term. Insurance payouts are paid for by someone and lead to increased insurance rates and often the loss of being able to get competitive bids for some years (in such allegations). This will hurt our schools and our community.

What are our children learning about all of this? Do the bullying lessons sink deeper because parents/insurance companies pay the price? Do our students feel a sense of a need to get in on it all? How will the island parents handle this conversation with their children? This is the responsibility of not just the schools but all of us. In this case, the human qualities at the base are ugly. Harassment is ugly, and punishment is ugly as well. I am so sad to find this on our island.

I have no answers other than the knowledge that there are likely several other ways to handle this situation that do not punish the taxpayers and parents on this island, yet lead to meaningful change for all children. I hope that somehow this case is dropped and another problem-solving way found. This would be something to teach all our children.

— Judith Beggs