Documents hint at deception by Prosser principal

PROSSER -- Prosser High School Principal Kevin Lusk drove his wife, a registered sex offender and former Prosser mayor, to two high school swim meets last fall despite her not having clearance from corrections or school officials to attend.

Lusk initially denied he knew Linda Lusk was going to attend the events, according to investigative documents just released by the district. He later told the investigator he trusted his wife to obtain the needed documentation to attend.

"It is more likely that the reason Mr. Lusk did not tell (Superintendent Ray Tolcacher) ahead of time that his wife would be attending the two meets was he knew doing so would result in her being denied permission to attend," according to the report compiled by attorney Donald F. Austin.

The documents were obtained by the Herald under the open public records act.

The incidents resulted in Kevin Lusk being suspended from work for a week in mid-February and signing a "last chance" agreement with the district. His attorney, John Schultz of Kennewick, referred all questions to Tolcacher's office.

Austin, with a Seattle law firm, said in his report that Kevin Lusk was deceitful and changed parts of his story in two interviews he had with him regarding his wife's attendance at the meets. However, the principal said if any other person with his wife's criminal status attended a school function, he would have asked to see paperwork authorizing their attendance.

Linda Lusk is on probation for third-degree child molestation after being convicted last May of inappropriately touching a 14-year-old boy. She must avoid places where children congregate, is prohibited from being around children under 16 without an approved chaperone and cannot travel outside Benton, Franklin or Yakima counties without permission. She must register as a sex offender for 10 years.

The district's investigation stemmed from a parent's complaint that he saw Linda Lusk at a swim meet in Ellensburg in October.

Kevin Lusk was aware of Tolcacher's desire to know when Linda Lusk would be at school events, according to the report. Last April, before she was convicted, the Lusks attended Prosser High's basketball banquet. Parents contacted Tolcacher during the event, who then called Kevin Lusk.

"Mr. Lusk described (Tolcacher) as 'over the top' upset and angry about this. (Tolcacher) said something to the extent of, 'What the hell is she doing there?' " the report read. Kevin Lusk then had his wife leave the event.

The report documented a few attempts by Linda Lusk to attend school events, sometimes deceptively.

Linda Lusk's parole officer rejected her request to attend a swim meet in September 2011. She also called Tolcacher in late October 2011, saying she had permission from her therapist and parole officer to attend a middle school football game. Tolcacher checked with the parole officer who said she did not have clearance to attend and told her to stay away.

Kevin Lusk told the investigator he was "livid" with his wife for the position she had put him and their children in, and that he wouldn't have knowingly put himself or the district "in a spot like this."

Under the last chance agreement Kevin Lusk signed almost two months ago, he must obtain professional counseling to assist "in differentiating workplace responsibilities and family commitments."

The agreement also requires Linda Lusk to always have written permission to attend school functions, even after her supervision by corrections officials ends.

Linda Lusk pleaded guilty to seven state probation violations in November in connection with her attending school events without authorization, as well as for failing to take a scheduled polygraph test.

She served 11 days in jail, was ordered to perform community service and to re-enter therapy sessions.

On Tuesday, Selena Davis, a spokeswoman for Washington Department of Corrections, told the Herald that Linda Lusk is in compliance with her supervision, is attending therapy sessions and has 16 hours of community service remaining.

"Her (community corrections officer) described her as progressing well," Davis said in an email.

This story was originally published April 6, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Documents hint at deception by Prosser principal ."