Residents criticize taxes, board conduct and call for reforms at Lacey Township meeting

Several residents used the meeting’s public comment period to sharply criticize the district’s recent tax increases and the school board’s conduct and to propose a range of reforms.

Richard Bidnick, speaking for Lacey Citizens for Responsible Government, blamed both the school board majority and the teachers’ union for the district’s problems and listed proposed reforms, including returning a right-to-vote on the school budget, hiring a turnaround superintendent and attaching performance evaluations to teacher contracts. “The teachers union likes to blame the parents, and the reality is the district’s ultimate failings squarely falls on both of their shoulders,” Bidnick said.

Other speakers described personal financial hardship from the tax burden. Melody Pryor said she could no longer afford her taxes and plans to leave town: “My house was paid for in full. I worked my **** off my entire life, and now I can no longer afford my taxes.” Linda Miller told the board that “all the wonderful things happening in this school happens in many other schools with a sensible balanced budget,” and urged attention to fiscal management.

Several commenters accused the board of breaking the 2% cap in recent years; those statements were presented as speakers’ claims in the public comment period and were not presented in the meeting record as board findings. Commenters also called for a citizens’ budget committee, random drug and alcohol testing for employees, and greater transparency in committee meetings.

Board members acknowledged the comments publicly and several offered short responses during board-member remarks. The transcript records calls from multiple residents and no formal board motion on the reforms listed by public speakers during the meeting.

Because many of the criticisms and reform proposals were presented during public comment, the transcript does not show formal board action on those proposals during this meeting.