This year posed several challenges to schools within Thurston County. Tumwater and Olympia school districts especially suffered significant financial losses due to post-pandemic enrollment declines.
Safety issues also beset local schools, and debates about on-campus School Resource Officers (SROs) resurfaced after students were seen carrying guns (or toys resembling them).
Handgun-looking toy leads to temporary lockout of Tumwater Middle School
Early in May this year, Tumwater Middle School was temporarily placed on lockout after a minor entered the school with a toy that looked like a handgun. The school was immediately placed on lockout, and arriving students could not leave their buses until the issue was resolved. No threats were made against anyone at the school.
Tumwater Virtual Academy faces suspension from lack of students
Tumwater School District closed the Tumwater Virtual Academy (TVA) due toenrollment issues. TVA is an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program initially approved by the state’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) as a Single District Online School Program expected to extend until the 2024-2025 school year. TVA Principal Jody Halterman said that the decision to suspend TVA for 2023-2024 is due to a significant drop in enrollment projections. He also added that “the school is no longer financially sustainable.”
Students and parents appeal to Olympia School Board to not close schools
The OSD Board faced backlash after the School Facility Efficiency Review Committee recommended consolidating schools in the district to save money. Students and parents attended several board meetings to urge the board against the closures. On December 14, the directors voted on a motion to open a 90-day public comment period about the proposed closures.
Capital High School in Olympia had two gun-related occurrences inside the campus. On the first day of school in September, a 15-year-old student was arrested for bringing a concealed firearm onto school property. The following Monday morning, five days after the incident, a member of the Capital High School staff saw what appeared to be a gun being passed over a stall. When officers showed up, the employees brought out a BB pistol that looked like a handgun. The two incidents are unrelated, but they sparked discussion of bringing back SROs inside Olympia schools
North Thurston Public Schools partners with Lacey Police Department for Culture of Kindness project
NTPS Board of Directors met with the Lacey City Council last October to report on the progress of collaborative programs, highlighting a partnership with the Lacey Police Department to promote a “culture of kindness.” This project reportedly encourages students, staff, and community members to build kindness by promoting, documenting, and celebrating charitable deeds and other acts of kindness. NTPS also partnered with the police department to place School Resource Officers in Lacey and North Thurston elementary, middle, and high schools. NTPS’s partnership with LPD includes three objectives: Training and Support, SRO Programs, and 24/7 Communication.
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bonaro
One good thing that came as a result of the pandemic is that parents learned that home schooling is not that daunting and it yields a far better education than public schools. The increasing progressive indoctrination of children in public schools needs to end immediately or you will see more and more schools closing...and for good riddance.
Home schoolers do not need metal detectors.
Home schoolers do not need resource officers.
Home schoolers are not asked what pronouns they prefer on a monthly basis.
Home schoolers do not have a library that glorifies homosexual lifestyles.
Home schoolers are not bullied or solicited to buy drugs.
The choice is very obvious.
Tuesday, December 26, 2023 Report this