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Superintendent posts 'Safe and Welcoming Schools' resources; board awaiting AG guidance on policy 32.11
Summary
Dr. Maxwell said the district added a website tab to collect resources on executive orders and policy changes affecting schools and advised the board against changing policy 32.11 until the attorney general issues guidance; public commenters called for repeal and for more transparent reporting on race-related incidents.
Superintendent Doctor Maxwell told the board Feb. 12 that Pullman Public Schools has added a "Safe and Welcoming Schools" tab on the district website where the administration will post updates, resources and guidance on federal and state actions that affect school operations.
"We created a tab on our website. It's right at the top bar. It says safe and welcoming schools," Maxwell said, and added that the page currently lists items from OSPI and other sources about topics such as Title IX, gender inclusion guidance and federal immigration enforcement in schools.
Maxwell also addressed policy 32.11, which relates to equity and student support. Legal counsel recommended no changes to the district’s policy 32.11 until formal guidance is issued by the Washington attorney general, Maxwell said. The superintendent said the district expects an OSPI update soon on the parents' bill of rights and will keep the board informed.
Public comment included two speakers who addressed equity issues. Gabriel Wofford urged the board to repeal enforcement of policy 32.11, asserting the policy conflicts with community values and citing multiple statutory references in his remarks. Another speaker, John Castleman, thanked the district for creating a DEIB task force and urged the board to publish a regular, public report tracking harassment, intimidation and bullying incidents involving race and related categories so the community can see progress against hate.
Board members said the DEIB group would continue work on a community survey and that more information will come to the board as the task force completes its review.
