CVMS's New Principal 'Mishandled' a Sex Assault Case in Palo Alto

In Palo Alto, a 17 Year Old Student Was Convicted of Sexual Harassment. Yet, He Still Walked the Same Campus.

Palo Alto High School, a school serving roughly 2,000 students. Nick named "Paly" Paly has brought up athletes like Davante Adams, Joc Pederson and actor James Franco. The high school is in the backyard of Stanford University, in a suburban part of the city. With two feeder middle schools, Paly High has 127 staff members, including Kim Diorio, who is currently being disciplined for failing to protect students as a convicted sexual assulter freely walked the campus, and attended classes. Kim Diorio resigned form Palo Alto HS back in March, saying : "After 11 wonderful years at Paly, I've decided that it's time for me to take the next step in my career," she wrote to staff in a letter. "The decision wasn't an easy one, especially given the thought of no longer seeing and working with all of you on a daily basis. Frankly, it's not one I seriously considered before the start of the new year." The person responsible for handling the case and keeping a safe school were Kim Doirio and Victoria Kim, along with Superintendent Holly Wade.

Why The Leave

Back in 2016, a young female student complained to the school; A 15-year-old who said a 17 year-old baseball player forced this unidentified freshman to perform oral sex on him in a Palo Alto church bathroom in 2015, and in a school bathroom in mid 2016. And another alleged victim who said he sexually assaulted her at a house party in Redwood City in January 2016. KTVU -- a local channel in the Bay Area -- reported that the Paly freshman reported the on campus assault to school administrators shortly after it occurred. But school board President Terry Godfrey said that the October incident was not "characterized at the time as a sexual assault" by the reporting parties nor school staff, Victoria Kim and Kim Doirio saw it and "handled as a discipline case", instead of a legal one. Paly Principal Kim Diorio declined to comment to local news stations by directing inquiries to the district’s communications rep. She told student news paper the "Paly Voice" Thursday, however, that the administration could not tell students about the allegations due to the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects student privacy. "There's a lot of information we can't share because of confidentiality and privacy," Diorio told the Paly Voice. "But we do everything proactively behind the scenes to make sure that that person doesn't pose a risk to anyone on the campus."

How is CVMS's New Principal Victoria Kim Involved?

Palo Alto School District Superintendent of Student Services Holly Wade and Assistant Principal in charge of student services, mental health, and counseling office, Vicoria Kim did not inform the girl, her 17 year-old perpetrator or any parent of their procedural options under the Uniform Complaint Procedure. Wade nor Kim followed federal protocol and did not create a centralized file of documentation for the case and she did not properly question either student, but only asking brief questions over the phone. AP Kim who joined the school in 2013 coming from San Jose School District, took on the responsibilities of student services, mental health and wellness advisor. In a report by law firm hired by the Palo Alto School District, who investigated the admins handling of the case from 2016 to 2018, saw multiple admin officials failed to handle the situation properly, including AP Kim. The report cites: Kim, Diorio and Wade failed to notify parents and students, failed to create a strong factual case, failed to create a definition and policy regarding sexual harassment, and failed to send the case to the district compliance manager. Which in the end, led a convicted student to still be on campus, potentially preying on students. In an email from SDUHSD Super, Eric Dill, to the Torrey Pines Falcons "Falconer" student news, Dill said he and the SDUHSD board are aware of the accusations, and believed that it doesn't impact her job, or her handeling of another case, may it happen.

Overall

Kim Doirio resigned in March of 2018 acting principal Adam Paulson is in charge as they search for a permanent staffer. May 2nd 2018, Kim was offered a position at Monta Vista High School located in Cupertino CA, wich serves 2,373 students. According to a source at Monta HS, Kim may have been offered $140K in salary, instead she took a position at a middle school, serving 1,200 students; forcing her to move to San Diego and bring her husband and toddler with her. For information regaridng Carmel Valley Middle Schools principal search click HERE. Is she running away like Doirio? Or just moving to San Diego's glorifying sunshine?

UPDATE: 6/7/18 2:2o PM (Email from Dill)

Jake Noble is a freelance Photographer, and journalist from Carmel Valley, San Diego.
He can be contacted at Jake@jakenobleworks.com
|| Jake Noble is the Patch Mayor Staff of the Del Mar-Carmel Valley Patch ||
This article is subject to updates and corrections at any moment.