Ex-Principal Accused Of Sex Harassment

MUKILTEO - The former principal of Harbour Pointe Middle School, who recently resigned, did so after Mukilteo School District officials began investigating a sexual-harassment complaint against him, district documents show.

Alan "Ace" Bulger was put on paid administrative leave Feb. 26 after an unidentified staffer alleged that he "engaged in unwelcome conduct toward her that violates the district's policy prohibiting sexual harassment," a district letter to Bulger said.

But Bulger offered to resign before officials had gotten far into the investigation. On March 5, the Mukilteo School Board approved an agreement that keeps Bulger working in the district's facilities office until his contract expires at the end of the year. At that time, Bulger's district employment will cease.

Asked for comment yesterday, Bulger read from a prepared statement.

"I was not privileged to the information about any of the original complaint," he said. "I will tell you that to my knowledge, there was no investigation. All parties came to an agreement on a solution, and the original complaint was withdrawn. The decision made was the best solution for the students, staff and community of Harbour Pointe Middle School."

Bulger, who came to Mukilteo from the Lake Washington School District five years ago, will earn $73,368 this year. Until the end of the year, he will help plan for the opening of the district's new alternative high school, among other duties, district Superintendent Gary Toothaker said last week.