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Community speakers urge Tumwater board to repeal resolution on trans athletes and raise safety, staffing concerns
Summary
Dozens of public commenters addressed the board during public comment, urging repeal of a recently passed resolution aimed at restricting trans students in sports, and pressing the district on classroom safety and staffing cuts.
Public comment at the Tumwater School District board meeting focused heavily on a resolution the board passed in February directing staff on athletics policy and on wider concerns about student and staff safety and district transparency.
Multiple speakers told the board the resolution excludes and harms transgender students and risks violating state law. Julie Watts, a parent of a nonbinary student, told the board the resolution"violates our state's nondiscrimination laws" and that it made her family feel less safe. Carrie Hoon, a parent, cited RCW 28A.642.010 (as read into the record) and said the board's support for amendments that would exclude trans students placed the district at legal risk. Several other speakers also urged the board to repeal the resolution and to follow state nondiscrimination requirements.
Speakers also raised staffing and safety issues unrelated to athletics. Heather Dover, a second-grade teacher at Michael T. (MTS), described classroom and staff safety incidents she said are increasing amid planned staff reductions: she cited "32 employee incident reports" at MTS this year and said 31 behavior write-ups were coded as physical aggression, including repeated suspensions for a small number of kindergarten students. Dana Baston, a 16-year veteran K2 teacher at Michael T., likewise testified that staff are being hit, kicked, bitten, and threatened and questioned how the district will keep students and staff safe given proposed changes to staffing allocation.
Other commenters urged board transparency and condemned what they described as avoidance of community concerns. Colette Hudson, identifying herself as a Tumwater alumna and taxpayer, criticized the boards engagement with protesters and called for clearer communication. Several speakers, including past and current district staff and students, urged the board to focus on inclusive practices and to rescind the February resolution.
At the end of the meeting a board member recommended the board consider repealing the February resolution so the district can refocus on student learning. The transcript does not show any formal board motion or vote to repeal the resolution at this meeting.
