Parent tells Northshore board a signature-gathering event would violate district policy; board hears privacy and anti-trans concerns about two initiatives
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Summary
A parent told the Northshore School District board a political group plans signature-gathering at a middle school in violation of district policy and state law and urged the board to consider policy and privacy risks posed by two initiatives; no formal board action was taken.
A parent raised concerns to the Northshore School District board about the proposed use of school facilities for signature-gathering and criticized two state initiatives he described as harmful to students.
Michael Lowry, who identified himself as the parent of a student at Moorland Elementary, told the board during virtual public comment that a political group called Let's Go Washington intends to hold a "super signer" event at North Shore Middle School to collect signatures for two initiatives identified in his remarks as IL26001 and IL26638. Lowry told the board that using district facilities for initiative signature gathering would violate District Policy 4400 and state law (citing RCW 29B.50.090), and he referenced Public Disclosure Commission Declaratory Order No. 14 (1996) as further guidance.
Lowry also criticized the content of the measures. He described IL26638 (presented in his comments as a measure about "protecting fairness in girls' sports") as "anti-trans," and said it would impose invasive medical exams on cisgender girls while affecting a very small number of transgender athletes statewide. He said IL26001 would roll back legislative changes protecting students' mental-health records and other services and described the privacy implications for students who rely on school-based professionals.
Board President Amy Cast and district staff did not announce any immediate enforcement action during the meeting. Cast thanked Lowry for raising the issue; the board's public-comment rules and state law were previously explained in the meeting, and the president said follow-up may occur through district channels. No board motion or vote addressing the claims was taken during the session.
Why it matters: School buildings are public facilities but district policies and state statutes place limits on political activity on school property. If a partisan or ballot-related event is scheduled on district-owned property, the district must ensure the use complies with Policy 4400 and relevant state law. Parents and community members also raised the issue as part of broader concerns about student privacy and protections for transgender students.
What the district recorded: The board's virtual public comment lasted within the allotted public-comment period; Michael Lowry cited District Policy 4400 and RCW 29B.50.090 and urged the board to apply those rules consistently. District staff did not announce whether the district had received a facilities request from Let's Go Washington during the meeting, nor did the board identify any immediate enforcement steps on the record.
Next step: The board did not vote or take formal action on Lowry's allegations during the meeting. According to the board's public-comment process described earlier in the session, the district or a board member may follow up after the meeting through the superintendent's office or the district's facilities-use procedures.
