YCS community member voices concerns over school board

Heather Warsaw attended Yelm Community Schools’ most recent board meeting on Thursday, Oct. 9, and used the public comment portion of the event to voice her concerns over the school board and the direction that YCS is heading.
Warsaw, a parent of a student in the district and a community member, stated she previously served as a school board member in a different city, but noted her time was short as she left that community to “return to (her) roots of Yelm.”

“I address you all with a different understanding of your role than most citizens. I also have an intimate understanding of public boards, elected officials and legal requirements,” Warsaw said. “This district is now facing a fourth consecutive levy failure. That should be setting off alarms for all of us. I know it is for me. Much thought and many conversations with my fellow community members has led me to an understanding of why. It is not a funding problem. It is a trust problem.”

Warsaw noted that she attended Prairie Elementary and Mill Pond Elementary, along with Yelm Middle School and Yelm High School as a student. She added that each of the board members “has had the privilege” of seeing their children or grandchildren attend YCS, and that some of the board members even attended Yelm schools.

“You have seen firsthand the opportunities our schools once offered,” she said. “We’ve also seen how things have changed after repeated levy failures. You know the impact that these decisions have had — not just on budgets, but on classrooms, programs, the spirit of our school, and most importantly, our youth. Our future.”

Though the district has cited financial issues due to tax increases, as one of the primary reasons for levy failure, Warsaw points to a lack of trust from the community as a key reason for three consecutive levy failures.

“The community has clearly spoken again and again and again. That was three agains. It was intentional,” she said. “This isn’t simply a financial issue.​ This is a trust issue. The public has lost all confidence in how the district is being led. I urge you to take an honest look at the root cause of that lack of trust. You must stop pretending this is about taxes or voter turnout.”

Warsaw also voiced her concerns about a potential cut to funding for sports within YCS if the levy fails for a fourth time next month. She strongly discouraged targeting sports programs for reduction or elimintion.

“For many students, athletics are not a luxury. They are the reason they stay connected to the school, understand teamwork and have hope. Sports are the sole reason some adults are still alive today,” she said. “While I desperately hope I am wrong, I fear you will soon be making another round of difficult budget decisions. We need you to think carefully about what kind of district you want to have left when the cuts are done. Every cut sends a message about your priorities.”

Warsaw added that the elected school board directors are the decision makers, and that the superintendent carries out their direction — but that the “ultimate responsibility” lies with the board.

“Too often, the frustration of the public is deflected toward district staff or administration, when in reality, the decisions start and end at your table,” she said. “Quit allowing someone else to shoulder the consequences of your decisions. Quit hiding behind the face of the superintendent. Take responsibility for the posture of the district. After all, your decisions and votes got us here.

“What is this board, each one of you individually, doing to rebuild trust and credibility with the people you serve? What changes are being made to communicate more openly, to listen more carefully, and to demonstrate accountability for past decisions,” she asked.

As YCS continues to consider future cuts, she asked the school board directors to proceed with care. She added that before decisions that “will affect students for years to come” are made, to take a hard look at how the district got here and to take an “equally serious step” to repair the public’s faith in YCS.

“Each of you are very familiar with the saying ‘This is Y.’ I challenge you to remember that Y stands for Yelm,” she said. “It should also stand for youth. But if you don’t do what is right for the youth, the community of Yelm, and for the district, the saying is going to change. The new saying, and unfortunately it’s already gaining traction, is going to be ‘this is your fault.

“While your decisions may not change, some things must change. The district cannot move forward until it builds trust. That starts with each of you individually and as a whole through transparency, accountability and meaningful engagement with the community you serve. The time to make the change was months, maybe years ago. But we can’t go backwards.”