MISD updates progress with student safety committee
Published 1:05 pm Monday, May 4, 2026
Mercer Island School District (MISD) released a video to update the community on the progress of the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee near the end of April, which was Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Moderated by Mercer Island High School (MIHS) senior and broadcast media student Reese Hardisty, the video features interviews with MIHS junior Wilder Gianni-Upton and sophomore Kavya Muralidhar, School Board President Stephanie Burnett, School Board Director Cristina Martinez and MISD Superintendent Dr. Fred Rundle.
“We are steadfast and resolute in our commitment to preventing sexual assaults and establishing appropriate boundaries,” Rundle said in the video introduction, adding moments later that, “Alleged and confirmed cases of sexual assault, particularly ones involving our staff, have been difficult for our entire community, our staff and our leaders. We’re choosing to tackle this issue head on and create safer environments for everyone.”
The full committee has met five times since its formation this past fall and there have been nine additional meetings between three subgroups. The committee is comprised of students, staff, parents, administrators, community members and regional partners, including the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, UW Medicine’s Harborview Abuse and Trauma Center and more.
Hardisty explained that the committee’s four priority themes are students, professional boundaries, reporting and follow-up, and student learning and staff training.
Following are some of the topics that were discussed on the video:
• Gianni-Upton noted that the Students Subcommittee created a student safety survey, “because we wanted to better understand how students are actually feeling, especially when it comes to safety, boundaries and reporting concerns.”
With 400 responses coming from all grade levels, the MIHS junior said they learned that many students aren’t fully clear on what boundaries cross a line, and there’s hesitancy around reporting — whether that’s because of fear of retaliation or concerns about follow through.
• Burnett, who chairs the Professional Boundaries Subcommittee, said they focused on a district policy that addresses maintaining professional staff student boundaries and the procedures that stem from that policy.
“This framework sets the tone for how professional boundaries are understood and upheld across the district. So it’s critical that it clearly defines what behaviors fall outside appropriate staff student relationships,” she said.
• Rundle discussed the MISD’s partnership with Praesidium, a nationwide abuse-prevention and intervention firm that visited the district April 28-30 to conduct a full audit of its systems, policies and procedures and interview students, parents and staff. Praesidium’s audit will be presented to the school board in June.
On the Student Safety and Well-Being Committee front, it will present its work and findings to the school board in May. To view the video, visit the MISD Communications channel on YouTube.
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON MAY 11
Islanders will be able to engage with Burnett and Rundle during a Community Conversation from 6-7 p.m. May 11 in the MIHS Performing Arts Center. Attendees can ask questions and share perspectives on important MISD issues.
