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Community members cite Clear Risk report and urge board action after substantiated findings
Summary
Public commenters urged the Pullman School District board to address findings in a Clear Risk investigation that one speaker said substantiated seven allegations against board members; parents and teachers also pressed the board to reconsider a teacher nonrenewal and questioned recent consent‑agenda decisions.
Several teachers, parents and community members used the public‑comment portion of the Pullman School District board meeting to press trustees to act after a recently released Clear Risk investigation report. "All 7 allegations have resulted in substantiated findings," said Megan (speaker 22), who said she obtained the report through a public-records request. "These are serious findings," she added, urging the board to "address the findings openly and corrective action taken immediately."
Speakers described personnel decisions and board behavior that they said undercut trust. Kelly Laird (speaker 18), a second‑grade teacher, read excerpts she called "disheartening" from released text messages and said the exchanges suggested some members had decided outcomes before public discussion. "The delay felt disrespectful and anti‑union," she said of a recent request to table salary approvals. Johnny (speaker 23), a 20‑year Pullman teacher, told trustees he had struggled to reconcile private comments he heard with the board's public actions and described "alarming" alignment among a subgroup of board members on personnel matters.
Several public speakers focused on the nonrenewal of a classroom teacher referred to in comments as Ms. McNeil. Pam Bratner (speaker 19) and Lexi Brantner (speaker 7) described Ms. McNeil's classroom work and urged the board to reconsider or investigate the nonrenewal. "This level of commitment is not unique to me," Pam said of administrators who she said regularly step in to cover classes; Lexi added: "I urge the board to do what is best for the students of the Pullman School District by showing that you would value our administrators and the dedication they provide."
Board members did not take formal action on the investigation or the personnel items during the meeting. The public record and others at the meeting provided the basis for the speakers' requests; Megan urged trustees to respond with "actions and not statements" to restore public trust. The board moved on to its consent agenda and other business after the comment period.
