Update

Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish appears to have solved a potential problem over a part-time music teacher who says she is gay and plans to marry.

According to the Associated Press, Stephanie Merrow says she met with the school’s principal, Polly Skinner, who offered her a new contract as an independent contractor. The new designation means Merrow wouldn’t be an employee of the school and thus not be in violation of a contract that requires employees to follow Catholic doctrine, one of which is a prohibition of marriage between same-sex partners,

A vice principal at the school, Mark Zmuda, recently resigned or was terminated – the circumstances are disputed – after he married his same-sex partner. Students at Eastside Catholic, and elsewhere, have protested his removal from the school.

Stephanie Merrow

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Eastside Catholic School in Sammamish appears to have solved a potential problem over a part-time music teacher who says she is gay and plans to marry.

According to the Associated Press, Stephanie Merrow says she met with the school’s principal, Polly Skinner, who offered her a new contract as an independent contractor. The new designation means Merrow wouldn’t be an employee of the school and thus not be in violation of a contract that requires employees to follow Catholic doctrine, one of which is a prohibition of marriage between same-sex partners,

A vice principal at the school, Mark Zmuda, recently resigned or was terminated – the circumstances are disputed – after he married his same-sex partner. Students at Eastside Catholic, and elsewhere, have protested his removal from the school.

A second teacher at Eastside Catholic School has announced that she is gay and engaged to her partner. Stephanie Merrow teaches part-time at the school and is choreographing the school’s musical.

The news follows the Dec. 19 firing of Mark Zmuda, the school’s vice principal, after it became known he had married his gay partner. The school said Zmuda violated a contract he signed with the school to adhere to teachings of the Catholic church. Students at Eastside Catholic, and other schools, have protested the firing.

Merrow said she doesn’t think she signed the same contract that Zmuda did, since she works part time.

“What I signed just said I’d go with the Catholic teachings, which, from what I understand are love and following the words of Jesus Christ, which I had no problem with. I’m not Catholic, I told them I wasn’t Catholic, but it didn’t say anything about not being gay.”

Merrow said she was concerned about how the school would react to her engagement, but she said she went into the school Tuesday, Jan. 7, for rehearsal.

“They (the school) have not contacted me at all,” Merrow said. “I walked right in and did my job, and walked right out. I didn’t try to make a big deal about it. No one stopped me or said anything. The kids hugged me.”

Merrow said she knew that once her situation was revealed it would be a big deal, but said she wasn’t going to lie because that went against her beliefs and values.

“This generation (of students) just absolutely warms my heart,” Merrow said. “The fact that they walked out for (Zmuda) and that they protested and are making a huge statement. I love those kids, even the ones that don’t agree with gay marriage, I still love them. I couldn’t be more proud of those kids.”

Attempts by The Reporter to contact the school’s attorney were unsuccessful by deadline.