Tuesday night's Olympia SD meeting was pretty crowded

Obviously, my little cell phone camera photo cannot really convey how crowded Tuesday night's budget town hall meeting was. The 15 sign-in sheets were all full with about 12 spaces for names each, and some sheets with additional names on it. That only counts the people who made right on time and made it inside the Knox building board room, which was set up for about 80 people. Apparently, by about 7 p.m., the crowd spilled out into the hallway, and the district opened up about three more rooms and a space in the hall for people to meet in small groups.

Also, many of those present were students. I personally talked to Capital and Olympia high school students and one from Washington Middle School.

If you'd like to participate, there's one more chance for that process at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Marshall Middle School, 3939 20th Ave. N.W., Olympia. There is also a public comment period at next Monday's board meeting at the Knox Center, which starts at 6:30 p.m. The public hearing on the budget -- described as an "open mic" on the Superitendent's proposed budget -- is scheduled for June 5. Here's more information on Olympia's budget process.

--- Venice Buhain, Olympian education reporter