The Wenatchee School District has spent nearly $17,000 to conduct its internal investigation of the Sept. 6 alleged bus rapes, according to billing records obtained by The Apple Leaf last week. The district also incurred nearly $30,000 of legal fees in this case through 2014.

Wenatchee School District Superintendent Brian Flones said this morning the district estimated the internal investigation would cost about $15,000, but asked investigator Kris Cappel to do some extra work. He said that price is a pretty normal cost for an internal investigation.

Cappel, of the Seabold Group in Seattle, was retained by the district in October to answer eight strategic questions about staff compliance and knowledge of policies, procedures, or past practices, as well as the response from staff following the incident, through interviews with employees throughout the district.

Cappel’s investigative report was completed Dec. 17 and released to The Apple Leaf on Feb. 6. She concluded no systemic problems, but rather lax and ineffective supervision by the freshman football coach on board the bus.

Flones said that because of the district’s 30-year record of safe bus rides, the Sept. 6 incident is classified as isolated.

And although some policies were unclear in the Athletic Department, Flones said that could be attributed to the transition of athletic directors this school year, as Cappel noted in her report.

The district promoted Adam Bergstrom to director of risk management and safety in December and he has since begun reviewing procedures to be updated. Flones said this incident will help the district strengthen policy or procedure language and training to avoid misunderstandings in the future. An overall update on Bergstrom’s progress, Flones said, is expected to come to the school board this spring.

Flones said the district is currently focusing on field trips and playground supervision risk management and safety procedures.

The freshman football coach on board the bus Sept. 6, Kevin Sellers, was placed on paid administrative leave for his football co-curricular contract Sept. 11. According to the letter advising Sellers of his paid administrative leave, “This is not a disciplinary action; it is intended to allow for an investigation,” Flones wrote. Later in 2014, that co-curricular contract was not renewed.

Sellers has also held co-curricular contracts for winter weight room supervisor, assistant track coach, and summer weight room supervisor. He was on paid leave for the winter weight room position, and Flones declined to comment on Sellers’ assistant track coaching position, because the district is still working with him on that.

Sellers’ attorney John Brangwin said earlier this month he presumes that all of Sellers’ additional contracts will not be renewed after each season ends.

Immediately following the alleged incidents on Sept. 6, Wenatchee High School tightened bus supervision policies, according to a letter issued Sept. 17 by Principal Bob Celebrezze to football parents, obtained through a public disclosure request to the Wenatchee School District.

Current Athletic Director Jim Beeson traveled with the freshman football team to provide “constant supervision,” also supervising in the locker room and on the sidelines.

The Apple Leaf also obtained emails from a parent, whose name was redacted, to high school staffers, after contacting Sellers via email on Sept. 7. This parent reported the incident to head football coach Scott Devereaux on Sept. 8. “[My son] was really upset about it and wouldn’t give me details for fear of being a target,” the parent wrote. “This morning he gave us more information that we believe is a sexual assault against another student. Due to my profession as a social worker, I am a mandated reporter and I’ve contacted the police.”

Devereaux responded to that email within 20 minutes, and a little over an hour later, wrote another email to the parent advising them of the police department’s and administration’s active involvement.

The parent emailed Devereaux the next day, thanking him, Beeson, and Celebrezze for their “quick response to me yesterday despite everything that was going on.

“I really appreciate your concern for my son and for all the boys and students you work with,” the parent wrote.

When the bus returned to WHS on the evening of Sept. 6, no inappropriate behavior or bullying was reported to Sellers, Brangwin has said.

Cappel’s report is assisting the district with moving forward. “[The] report is helping the district have a better conversation about safety and prevention of accidents, and an overall culture of awareness,” Flones said. “Moving forward, only good things can happen out of this tragic situation.”