BOTHELL — Several hundred Bothell High School students walked out of classes Monday, May 18, to protest the Northshore School Board’s decision to eliminate the school’s only school resource officer, ending a program that had operated for more than 30 years.
The students marched from the high school campus to Bothell City Hall, chanting in support of Officer Garrett Ware and calling for the board to reverse its vote. The demonstration came one week after the board voted 4-1 on May 12 not to renew the district’s contract with the Bothell Police Department for school resource officer services at Bothell High School.
Bothell High, which enrolls about 1,766 students in grades 9-12, was the last school in the Northshore School District with a dedicated school resource officer. The program, operated by Bothell police, was one of the longest-running in Washington state. The board’s decision means the contract — which cost the district about $103,000 annually — will not be renewed for the 2026-27 school year. The cancellation takes effect at the start of the next academic year in fall 2026.
The Northshore School Board members who opposed renewing the contract stated a desire for a more comprehensive district-wide safety plan that better aligns with Northshore’s values of equity and inclusion. Some said an armed police officer on campus can create anxiety or a less welcoming environment for certain students and raise concerns about disproportionate discipline or information-sharing that could be used against students in legal contexts.
Board President Sandy Hayes was the lone vote in favor of continuing the program. The four Northshore School Board directors who voted to terminate (not renew) the Bothell High School SRO contract on May 12, 2026, were:
- Hân Trần (District 3), up for reelection in 2027
- Carson Sanderson (District 1), up for reelection in 2029
- Kimberlee Kelly (District 5), up for reelection in 2029
- Elisabeth Sotak (District 2), up for reelection in 2027
The vote came despite strong community support documented in the district’s required annual review. A 2024 survey of Bothell High students, parents and staff, released in May 2024 as part of the SRO program evaluation, showed broad backing for the program and for Officer Ware.
Among students, 78.6% agreed or strongly agreed that the SRO program promotes student safety, while 65.4% said it improves the educational climate. More than 84% viewed Ware as a positive role model, and 68.4% saw him as an informal counselor. Support was even higher among parents with 88.9% on safety and staff at 87.9%. The district’s message to families in April also noted strong parent and faculty support and a principal recommendation to continue the program.
Students who organized the walkout and an online petition said their voices were not adequately heard by the school board. The Change.org petition titled “Save Bothell High School’s SRO program with Officer Ware,” created May 11 by student Brady Minneman, had gathered more than 3,900 signatures by Monday evening.
“Officer Ware is a cornerstone of Bothell High School and a beloved figure in the Bothell community,” the petition states. “His presence is not just about enforcing rules; he’s ingrained in the fabric of our daily school life. Having him as our School Resource Officer gives us a sense of safety and continuity that cannot simply be replaced.”
Petitioners described Ware as a mentor who builds rapport with students, prevents incidents before they escalate, participates in clubs and community outreach, boosts morale and promotes positive behavior. They argued the program provides a critical first line of defense in emergencies and cited national research on the benefits of school resource officers.
Northshore School District officials have said they will redirect funds toward other safety measures, including mental health support, while maintaining campus supervisors and emergency protocols.
The board’s action follows a pattern in some Washington school districts distancing themselves from law enforcement.
Northshore School District itself ended its SRO program at Woodinville High School in 2022. Other districts, including Edmonds—which discontinued officers at several high schools around 2020—and Seattle have similarly moved away from traditional SRO models ever since the killing of Goerge Floyd by a Minnesota police officer. The reasoning school board members have given for ending SRO programs are over alleged concerns over equity, student mental health and the role of law enforcement in schools.
State law requires districts with SRO programs to conduct annual evaluations and have school boards vote on contracts each year.
The Northshore School District serves more than 23,000 students across 34 schools in northern King and southern Snohomish counties.
Author: Mario Lotmore
