BOTHELL, Wash. — The Northshore School District has rejected a new contract for its longstanding school resource officer at Bothell High School.
The school board voted Monday after a heated public comment period. One board member said she is concerned that a police officer serves in a role some students may view as a confidant, potentially sharing information that could later be used against them legally. Another board member said some community members oppose the SRO but felt afraid to voice their concerns publicly.
Bothell High School is the only campus in the district that still has an SRO, Officer Garrett Ware, an armed officer from the Bothell Police Department.
During more than an hour of public testimony at Monday’s school board meeting, dozens of students and parents spoke in support of keeping the officer and the program, which has been in place for more than three decades.
The principal and other district officials had recommended continuing the SRO program, but the final decision rested with the five-member school board.
Parents told KOMO News they were concerned the contract might not be approved, citing similar programs being terminated at other schools and the addition of two new board members. One student said during public comment that Officer Ware has built connections with students across the school.
“It’s scary to think about coming to school without an officer on campus,” the student said. “Having Officer Ware at school gives students peace of mind knowing there’s someone trained, someone present, and someone who can respond immediately if something happens, allowing us to focus on learning.”
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Opponents of SROs say the presence of police in schools can create anxiety or a hostile learning environment for some students, as well as concerns about disproportionate discipline for minority students.
State law requires the Northshore School District to complete an SRO program evaluation and have the school board vote on the officer’s contract ahead of each academic year.
“This is a sham!” one parent yelled toward the board after the vote.
The school board voted to terminate the SRO at Woodinville High School in 2022.
Officer Ware has been assigned to the Bothell High School campus since 2017.
