Fairview High School Principal Don Stensrud On Leave As Title IX Lawsuit Is Investigated
BOULDER, Colo. (CBS4) - The principal of Fairview High School in Boulder is on paid administrative leave as a Title IX lawsuit is investigated. Don Stensrud has been with the Boulder Valley School District for 22 years.
The lawsuit was filed Aug. 6. It claims the school has an "extensive history of cultivating a sexually hostile environment, failing to respond to reports of sexual assault, failing to adequately train students, teachers, and administrators on sexual assault and Title IX, and failing to even commence Title IX investigations."
Much of the lawsuit focuses on a member of the lacrosse team, who was accused of sexually assaulting at least three students in 2016 and 2017. The victims say after reporting the assaults, they were harassed and bullied by other classmates, as well as the accused rapist. They say despite "repeated reports to Fairview officials who had the ability to take corrective action, no Title IX investigation was ever opened regarding the hostile environment that [the victims] were experiencing."
According to the lawsuit, a police investigation later resulted in the lacrosse player charged with eight counts of sexual assault and two counts of domestic violence.
In a letter to parents, the district said it couldn't comment but says it understands students are facing a difficult start to the school year.
While not mentioned in the lawsuit, this is not the first time a Fairview student-athlete has been charged with sex crimes.
Former starting quarterback Aiden Atkinson was accused of sexually assaulting a classmate on a party bus in 2018. In April, a jury acquitted Atkinson on two counts of sexual assault and one count of attempted sexual assault. The judge declared a mistrial on two other charges of unlawful sexual assault because the jury could not agree on a verdict. In May, Atkinson pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor harassment and was sentenced to one year of probation and 50 hours of community service.
