Tacoma board hears residents and union members pressed over Reed Elementary callouts; district cites investigation and restorative plans

Assistant Superintendent Renee Trueblood told the Tacoma School District board that an investigation into a Sept. 12 staff callout at Reed Elementary found evidence that a number of teachers planned the absence and attended a same‑day gathering afterward, while some staff were cleared as credibly ill.

"At Tacoma Public Schools, we have a shared value of supporting every student every day," Trueblood said in a prepared statement, recounting that whistleblowers, video and email evidence led the district to pursue disciplinary steps for staff it says violated district policy and the collective bargaining agreement. She said the district has cleared several teachers and is pursuing progressive discipline and appeals for others, and recommended restorative practices at Reed.

Why it matters: The dispute surfaced repeatedly during the public comment period, where 17 speakers — parents, teachers, union representatives and community organizers — urged the board to prioritize student supports, staffing and restorative engagement rather than punishment. Speakers emphasized chronic understaffing, overloaded split‑grade classes and the emotional toll on students and educators.

Parents and educators described local conditions they say precipitated the action. Suzanne Skar, an adjunct instructor who said she has long sought accommodations for disabilities, said she had been injured twice while attempting to work in classrooms and pressed the district for follow‑up. "I've been trying to get an answer and investigation from the district," she said, asking for a staff member to follow up immediately.

Several speakers framed the callouts as a last‑resort tactic to raise safety and staffing concerns. "These people are advocating for students," said Mikey Court of Common Good Tacoma. "These teachers are willing to put their job on the line to protect kids. Shame on you," he told the board.

Union response: Michael Williams, vice president of the Tacoma Education Association, criticized the district for devoting significant resources to the investigation. "The Reed staff messed up. If they sicced out, they get what they get," Williams said, while also urging the district to "repair the harm done by the investigation and rescind the discipline for Reed staff," a remedy he said remains possible.

Community organizers and parents pressed for concrete changes: more paraeducators in split‑grade classrooms, improved communication when families raise concerns, halting terminations while exploring restorative resolutions, and better resourcing for schools experiencing construction disruptions and reduced supports.

Board process and next steps: The board did not debate or vote on personnel matters during the meeting. The president reiterated board policy that members do not respond during public comment and said district staff or the superintendent would follow up with individuals who requested it. The assistant superintendent's statement noted some staff were cleared and others are moving through the district's progressive discipline and appeals processes; no final outcomes were announced at the meeting.

What is unresolved: The transcript records competing claims — district investigators saying evidence shows coordination, and community members and union leaders saying the district prioritized punitive action over listening — and does not show final disciplinary outcomes or appeal results. The district committed to follow‑up with commenters and to pursue restorative practices at Reed.

The board adjourned the meeting after routine business; the record shows no vote altering discipline or reversing investigations during this session.