Protesters brought large metal cans, banged on windows and forced their way into the building during the latest meeting of the Tumwater School District Board of Directors.
The protesters were able to bring cans in the meeting room as the district currently does not conduct security screening for the audience of public meetings, Director of Communications & Community Relations Laurie Wiedenmeyer responded in an email to questions from The JOLT News.
“At Thursday’s meeting, once people were admitted to fill the seats available, staff noticed a couple of people in the room had large metal cans under their chairs. They were asked to move them to a side table when they indicated they had coins in them,” Wiedenmeyer wrote.
Any other loud instruments heard on the meeting live stream were brought in when the protesters forced their way into the building, Wiedenmeyer added.
Wiedenmeyer also clarified the number of people who can enter a meeting. At a regular school board meeting, around 45 seats are available for audience members.
In a work session, like the April 10 meeting, around 20 people are allowed inside as the tables and chairs are set in a way that board members can hold face-to-face conversations.
Asked about the possible regulation on attendees, Wiedenmeyer said possible ways of making the meetings safer are being considered.
“The Board and district staff are reviewing the events and discussing ways to make sure future meetings are safe for everyone. While we welcome community attendance, it’s important that the meetings can continue without disruption so that the work of the district can move forward," she wrote.
Wiedenmeyer also said changes for future meetings will be considered and changes will be publicized, as it is the district’s priority that everyone in attendance feel safe.
“Our goal is (to) create an environment in our board meetings to hold productive and respectful discussions, as well as conduct important district business that is essential to the work of our schools, staff, and students,” Wiedenmeyer added.
Wiedenmeyer also provided a statement from the Tumwater School District on Friday, April 11.
“On the evening of April 10, 2025, the Tumwater School District Board of Directors held a scheduled school board meeting, which began with an executive session at 5:00 p.m. During this time, the front doors of the district office remained locked, as executive sessions are closed to the public.
At approximately 5:45 p.m., the doors were unlocked, and a limited number of the public were admitted into the boardroom to occupy the available seating. Approximately 20 individuals were seated, and due to limited capacity, others were asked to remain outside the building. Upon entry, (protesters) outside of the building began disrupting the executive session by pounding on windows, causing the Board to disperse to another room. Due to the continued disruptions, executive session did not conclude until approximately 6:15.
Around 6:15, board members entered the board room for the work session which began shortly after 6:15 p.m. However, within minutes, two attendees rushed to the entrance of the building, aggressively pushed past our staff member at the front door, and forcibly opened the doors to allow a large group of protesters inside. (Protesters) entered both the board room and the lobby area, creating a disruption to the meeting. The meeting was recessed and resumed in another location in the building. (Protesters) also attempted to access restricted areas of the building.
By approximately 6:40 p.m., the (protesters) exited the building and continued their demonstration outside. We sincerely apologize to those in attendance who were not part of the disruption but were affected by the unexpected events. Your time, participation, and interest in the work of the district are deeply valued.
The district prioritizes the safety of all staff, students, and community members and will be reviewing security protocols in response to this incident. The district remains committed to creating respectful, inclusive spaces for civil dialogue and civic engagement.”
-- Tumwater School District Board of Directors statement, as stated in an email of Director of Communications & Community Relations Laurie Wiedenmeyer
16 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
DavidAlbert
There is not a single word (maybe I;m blind) regarding what the protest was about. Shouldn't that have been in the first line?
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Quadlok
What a bunch of despicable cowards the school board are. Contribute to the unfounded and frankly insane fear of trans athletes and then whine that people are mad at them. They don't deserve a moment of peace until they apologize and retract their bigotry.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
JulesJames
Good reporting not giving attention to those deliberately screaching out the public process.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
JustSaying
Police should be on standby at these meetings. Those disrupting should be arrested and trespassed.
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
JMRising
I hope in fairness you will also interview students and protestors to hear their point of view. It was a peaceful protest meant to refute the executive order that the school board voted 3-1 to pass despite public and student outcry, and despite the fact that this isn't state law. The superintendent himself stated that Washington schools intend to continue supporting trans students in sports. We will resist until these students voices are heard!
Tuesday, April 15 Report this
Most citizens don’t want to hold public office. Sitting behind a work table and listening to disruptive, disrespectful and ignorant babble is simply too high a price to pay. If this event regards boys competing in girls sports Board members should know they are on the rational side of this issue and have unwavering support from the vast majority of Tumwater citizens.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
CarpeCares
What were they protesting??????
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Spockbrow
I had to figure out what was going on based on the comments because the author left out what the protesters were protesting. I agree. Biological boys should never play on girls teams. These same people would have been fighting for women's rights 20 years ago. Now the bleeding heart liberals support every sob story victim without regard to fact or common sense.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Southsoundguy
Arrest them, they are psychos and the adults among them are probably deviants and pedos.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Olympiansince64
100% in support of the board regarding the decision to not let boys compete against girls! When it is allowed, it does nothing but erase years of struggle by women seeking equality!
As for the author of this story, thank you for not highlighting the poorly presented cause of the protestors.
Maybe they will someday learn that open, civil debate on a topic is how the process functions at its best.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Snevets
@DavidAlbert absolutely agree. Maybe they were rallying for our children.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
S2345S23456
This article is seriously irresponsible and incomplete reporting. Those protestors were there peacefully to noisily deliver a message. It makes it sound like the protestors were there to be violent, to perhaps break windows with cans, to perhaps throw cans at board members. But the cans were merely for making noise in objection to the board's unethical actions. This article neglects to even mention WHY the protestors were there. Nor does it touch on the issue that board meetings should be open to the public, and the board's way of limited seating is a way of preventing public participation, therefore dampening and censoring them, and preventing them from weighing in.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
S2345S23456
A really interesting article would report on what are various people's perceptions and thoughts on this issue in sports. This could expand beyond the local community, look at nationwide as well as worldwide on types of views about including transgender or nonbinary in sports.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
CarmenSandiego
Sad to see that transphobia is being legitimized. The Board proposed a clearly illegal decision. They took oaths to uphold state law and are failing to do so. They claim the protestors aren't their constituents. It would be nice if the Board would listen to appeals of readon or law or their responsibility to represent all students to but they don't. They pander to their Evangelical base and the kids protest. I don't blame them.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
CarmenSandiego
This school board sadly is incompetent. They sow division between the two high schools, with one member spouting favoritism online of Tumwater High aschool, when he is supposed to represent the dostrict that feeds into Black Hills. They cannot budget. At all. And yet they fail to claim responsibility for their abysmal budgeting. Now they fail to represent all students per the law of Washington. They don't hold forums or seek public input, just pass an illegal decision and then are sad and scared by the after.ath of a problem they created. They have shown they don't respect state law yet they expect the people they discriminate to be civil and lawful.
Wednesday, April 16 Report this
Hill_Folk
The board needs to fire the bloated admin staff and retain these teachers and para-educators. How much money have they spent on consulting to figure out they have a budget problem?
Then they wildly make a decision to vote on something that isn’t even their responsibility. Now they’re upset and blaming each other for enabling a vote.
They could have done nothing and they’d be better off than where they are now.
This is not the type of leadership that we need. I hope we all can remember that in 4 YEARS when their terms are up. Seriously, why is this a 4 year term?
Thursday, April 17 Report this