The Mercer Island School District announced Monday, Dec. 9 that a King County Superior Court judge reversed a finding by a lower court, which found the school district discriminated against a student by its response to reports of harassment by another student.

In October of 2011 at Islander Middle School, there were reports of isolated student-on-student harassment, largely in the form of racial harassment. The teachers and administrators took immediate action to address the situation, and worked extensively with the family and school community.

The judge determined that the district was not “deliberately indifferent” to the events regarding this situation and overturned an earlier decision by an administrative law judge (ALJ).

“The district is pleased that the judge reversed the ALJ’s decision and finding that the district engaged in discriminatory conduct,” said Superintendent Dr. Gary Plano.