Law enforcement officials in Sequim and Whatcom County are investigating allegations that a foster child was abused in the home of a Sequim couple — including a Sequim elementary school administrator who has been placed on leave.

Sgt. Mike Hill with the Sequim Police Department said he was contacted early last week by Child Protective Services (CPS) of alleged abuse in the homes of Francis and Shelley Jefferson toward an unnamed foster child.

Hill said no criminal charges have been filed as of Friday, Aug. 14, and that Sequim Police and the Lummi Nation Police Department have conducted multiple interviews with more scheduled for the open case.

“The kids are housed elsewhere and their immediate safety is OK,” he said.

He said Shelley Jefferson is the legal foster parent for three foster children.

Lummi Nation’s Police will be taking the lead on the investigation, Hill said, because a majority of the allegations occurred on the Lummi Nation’s grounds.

“There are several allegations over a period of weeks and months, mostly the school year, that range from everyday parenting issues to potential criminal charges depending on forensic interviews (done by Lummi Nation),” he said.

The Jeffersons — Francis, director of surveillance and compliance at Silver Reef Hotel Casino in Ferndale, and Shelley, assistant principal at Helen Haller Elementary in Sequim —have multiple residences in and outside of Sequim, Hill said.

Requests for information from Lummi Nation Police Department regarding the investigation were not provided by press time.

Dr. Rob Clark, Sequim Schools superintendent, said Shelley Jefferson notified him the evening of Aug. 11 about allegations.

As protocol with a pending police investigation, she was placed on leave the next morning.

This fall would have started her third year in Sequim, he said.

“An investigation by law enforcement has to run its course,” Clark said. “That could be two weeks to six weeks. It could be longer.”

Clark said the Jeffersons have been spending time in Whatcom County so that could lengthen the investigation.

“At some time, we may want to do our own investigation, but nothing is scheduled and (would happen on the) advice of legal counsel,” he said.

The Jeffersons had one biological child and three foster children enrolled in Sequim School District last school year, he said.

Sequim School Board directors agreed to appoint David Updike, Helen Haller Elementary’s school psychologist, as a “Teacher on Special Assignment” on Monday to help fill in as interim for Shelley Jefferson’s position until a resolution is reached on the investigation.