Board declines to sign on to proposed WASDA bylaw change after debate over fairness and logistics

The North Shore School District board voted on March 23 not to sign on to a proposed change to WASDA bylaws that would alter the number of voting members at general assembly by district size. The proposal, submitted by the Auburn School District and requiring additional district sign‑on to advance, would change representation so large districts would send three board members to general assembly, medium districts two, and small districts one.

Board members debated the proposal’s equity objectives and operational implications. Several directors said the suggested structure could create new inequities and logistical problems — for example, requiring additional board members to be available at short notice for votes that take effect immediately at general assembly. One director noted that the prior “weighted vote” system (removed in 2023) worked differently and that the new language did not appear to address representation concerns.

President Sandy Hayes described the item as a member‑driven bylaw petition rather than a WASDA board initiative and reported that, as of the previous Friday, the proposal had only two or three districts signed on (five are required to advance). After discussion the board moved and approved a motion to not approve the proposed bylaw change and asked Director Tran to follow up with the organization’s contacts.

The vote does not prevent the petition from being advanced statewide if the Auburn School District gathers the required co‑sponsors and it is ultimately approved at general assembly; the board’s action simply declines to sign on as a district supporter at the petition stage.