Mill Valley School District gets report on response to alleged molestation

The Mill Valley School District says an independent investigation determined it acted properly last year in the case of a teacher accused of child molestation.

“The investigation found that the district followed all applicable policies and protocols in responding to the 2024 allegations,” the district said in a summary of the findings. “When concerns were reported to district administrators in March 2024, immediate action was taken. This included placing the employee on administrative leave, promptly notifying law enforcement and initiating an independent investigation.”

The employee was Darren Smith, 55, of Fairfax, who had been a music teacher in the district since 2013. Marin County sheriff’s investigators arrested Smith on suspicion of child molestation in April 2024. Authorities alleged that he molested two children on the Strawberry Point Elementary School campus.

Smith posted bail. The next day, rescuers found him dead in the water near Drakes Beach. His surfboard washed up nearby.

The county coroner’s office determined that the cause of death was “asphyxiation due to drowning.”

“We were not able to determine if it was suicide or accidental or some other manner of death, so it is undetermined,” said Emily Mandel, a coroner’s investigator.

The district hired a lawyer to oversee a third-party investigation into its handling of the Smith matter. The inquiry was intended to look at the circumstances, policies and procedures in place at the school where the alleged crimes occurred.

The probe included 16 interviews, eight with district staff and eight with parents or guardians. The inquiry also included interviews with students.

“The investigation revealed that while the alleged misconduct may have previously occurred, concerns about the employee’s behavior were not reported to the district administration until March 2024,” the district’s summary states. “It is important to note that the district can only investigate and address concerns that are brought to our attention.”

Elizabeth Kaufman, the district superintendent, said it has taken “critical steps” to “ensure the well-being of every student.” She said that includes strengthening protocols and increasing staff training.

The district is also preparing students to recognize and report unsafe situations through the use of the “Second Step Child Protection” curriculum at the elementary schools.

“The district understands the gravity of the situation and its impact on our community,” Kaufman said. “The independent investigation established that the district followed all relevant policies when it received the concerns. While we cannot change what has happened, we are committed to learning from it.”

Sharon Nakatani, president of the district board of trustees, said the board is “confident in the integrity of the independent investigation and the decisive actions taken by district leadership.”

“Student safety remains our priority,” Nakatani said. “We fully support Dr. Kaufman’s efforts to improve safeguards, promote transparency and foster a culture of trust where concerns are reported and addressed immediately.”

The school district released its summary of the report on May 23.