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Northshore board declines to renew Bothell High SRO contract after hours of public comment
Summary
After extensive public comment from students, parents and staff, the Northshore School District board considered but voted down an amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Bothell to provide a school resource officer at Bothell High School; the board approved other staffing and capital actions the same night.
The Northshore School District board of directors considered an amendment to the interlocal agreement with the City of Bothell to provide School Resource Officer (SRO) services at Bothell High School for the 2026-27 school year and did not approve the renewal after extended public comment and board discussion.
The issue dominated public comment for the meeting. Dozens of Bothell High School students—including Ariana Benita—testified that Officer Ware is a trusted adult who provides emotional support, immediate emergency response and everyday presence that helps them feel safe. "Please don't take that away from me," Ariana Benita said, describing Mr. Ware as "a support system, a safe space, and a person who students trust." Several other students and parents described similar relationships and urged the board to retain the SRO program.
Supporters cited district survey results and local experience with the program's outcomes. John Corrigan, a parent, said the latest Bothell High SRO survey results were "overwhelmingly positive" and asserted the administration had received "0 student complaints" about the SRO this academic year. Community members also urged the board to consider continuity and relationship-building when weighing the contract.
Board members framed the vote as a balance between student safety, inclusion and district policy. Director Elizabeth Sotek said she was weighing "the emotional piece of people's feelings" along with quantitative data and said she could not support the program "in its current iteration." Director Kimberly Kelly and others emphasized the need for a district-wide model that aligns with equity and student learning priorities.
Superintendent Dr. Irish noted that state law requires annual review of SRO agreements and recommended approval of the interlocal amendment so SRO services could be provided for the 2026-27 year. After a motion to approve the amendment was moved and seconded, the motion failed on the board vote; the transcript records the outcome as "the motion fails" but does not include a roll-call vote tally in the public transcript.
The board did not adopt the proposed interlocal agreement for the SRO program during this meeting. Dr. Irish said emergency response and law enforcement support would continue to be available to schools, and several board members discussed alternatives focused on prevention, mental-health supports and district-employed trusted adults.
The meeting closed its public business with other votes: the board approved a resolution authorizing limited staffing reductions tied to declining enrollment and accepted several capital projects and curricular material recommendations (see separate board actions summary). The public meeting adjourned and the board moved into executive session.
What happens next: The board did not renew the interlocal amendment at this meeting; the district and board members said they will continue to engage with Bothell PD and community stakeholders while exploring district-level models of prevention and safety. No subsequent public meeting date for reconsideration was announced in the transcript.
