Students at Bothell High School are rallying after the Northshore School Board voted 4‑1 to not renew the contract of Officer Garrett Ware, ending a three‑decade school resource officer program. Despite surveys showing student safety and strong support from parents, faculty, and the principal, students say their voices were ignored. A petition with over 3,600 signatures and a planned walkout aim to pressure the board and explore legal appeals within the 30‑day window provided by Washington law.
Students at Bothell High School said they don't feel like their voices were heard in a recent vote by the Northshore School Board to eliminate the school's longstanding school resource officer program. four out of five board directors voted not to renew Officer Garrett Ware's contract for the 2026-27 school year.
In a message sent to Bothell High School families on April 22, the district cited strong support from parents and faculty members for the SRO program in the 2025-26 program evaluation. A survey completed by students indicated that most Bothell High students feel safe "frequently" or "almost always" at school, according to district officials. The high school's principal, as well as other district officials, also recommended the SRO program continue.
"We feel like the vote didn't represent what mostly everyone around here feels," said Nils Peistrup, a senior at BHS. "We feel like they kind of had their minds made up going into it. "has garnered more than 3,600 signatures as of publication, and students have organized a walkout on Monday morning to show their support for Officer Ware.
"This walkout means a lot to all of us students because it feels like we're losing a member of our Bothell community," said Avery Jensen, student body president at BHS. Some students are also exploring different options to attempt to appeal the board's vote, Peistrup said. Under Washington law, any person aggrieved by a decision or order of a school board has 30 days to file a formal appeal in their county's Superior Court.
"We were in lockdown in our classrooms for around an hour, and he was there to respond right away," Jensen said. "It just is such a sense of security at our school. "Peistrup, Jensen, and many of their peers hope their last-ditch efforts will be enough to save a program that's spanned three decades on Bothell's campus. KOMO News reached out to the four board directors who voted against the program for more information on their decision.
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Bothell High School School Resource Officer Student Protest School Board Decision Community Safety
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