Thurston Co. school board doesn’t act on layoffs after public outcry at meeting
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- Thurston County school board paused planned layoffs after public outcry at a meeting.
- Proposal would reduce mental health specialists as part of addressing a $10 million hole.
- North Thurston is the largest district in the county.
The North Thurston Public Schools board hit pause on layoffs Tuesday after public outcry during their meeting and new information that emerged during it.
In a partial effort to address a $10 million hole in its budget, the district – the largest school district in the county – has proposed cutting the number of mental health specialists to three from 11 and eliminating two physical therapists.
That doesn’t solve the problem, but it’s the only reduction-in-force under consideration. In addition, district officials expect to balance the budget through attrition, retirements and other non-staff cuts, and to keep those cuts as “far away from the classroom as possible,” said district spokeswoman Amy Blondin on Tuesday.
North Thurston finds itself with a deficit because enrollment is expected to dip by 178 students next year, plus expenses have soared, including fuel which has “skyrocketed” in price, Superintendent Troy Oliver said during the meeting. Staffing costs are higher, plus operating expenses, such as insurance and electricity, are higher as well, he said.
The layoff proposal would retain three mental health specialists at each of the district’s comprehensive high schools – Timberline, North Thurston and River Ridge – but would leave its middle and elementary schools without them.
That proposal produced a standing-room-only crowd at Lakes Elementary in Lacey, the location of Tuesday’s board meeting. More than 100 people were at the meeting, including many dressed in red — the signature look of the North Thurston Education Association, the union that represents teachers.
Before the board voted, board members asked questions of Superintendent Troy Oliver, including Jeff Line, the newest member. Line wanted to know what else was considered before the reduction-in-force proposal.
Oliver explained the expenses the district is dealing with, but that it also wants to maintain a 6% fund balance, stay on track with its strategic goals and weigh its funding sources.
He took aim at the state, saying the Legislature has been a big disappointment.
“I believe the state Legislature has woefully underfunded public education, and it hasn’t acknowledged ... the true needs to support our students,” he said.
Oliver responded to what he heard during public comment.
“We’ve heard tonight there’s not a lot of confidence from the people in the system, in our system, that (the reduction-in-force proposal) can be effective,” he said. “We believe it can be, and we’re going to do everything we can to make that happen.”
To make that happen, the district is potentially partnering with other community agencies to meet student mental health needs, he said.
“If it’s the board’s wish, we can, as we build that plan out going forward to mitigate the impacts on students and families, we’d be happy to bring a presentation on what that plan looks like.”
Based on that information, board member Line suggested they remove the layoff proposal from the agenda until they get more information. The board agreed.
The public speaks
About 20 people spoke out against the layoff proposal.
NAACP Thurston County member Jim Bamberger explained what children of color are up against these days and how important metal health specialists can be.
“There has been a rising tide of racist behavior, and more often than not, these behaviors have become peer-to-peer behaviors that are often hidden, that are often internalized, that are often suppressed and cause tremendous harms and trauma to students at all grade levels,” he said.
“We encourage you to rethink the decision as represented in that (reduction-in-force proposal) and protect the integrity of your institutional support for mental health, and particularly for Black, Brown and other students of color who are harmed by the silent arms of racism.”
Meadows Elementary teacher Karen White said the school’s mental health specialist would be sorely missed.
“The mental health specialist that we have at Meadows is someone who has touched so many families,” she said. “In my own classroom, she is working with so many families. And the amazing thing about her work is she connects with families and students on a level that other people are not able to and then, not only is she at Meadows for two days a week, she goes to Salish Middle School.
“They need mental health help, and by cutting our mental health specialist, they are not going to get that,” she said about the students. “It’s impossible for a community to absorb what our mental health specialists do.”
After hearing from the public, two school board members had two very different reactions.
Sarah Tracy was nearly in tears as she thanked the audience.
“I want you to know that your comments do not fall on deaf ears, and regardless of what happens with our district budget, I ask all of you to help advocate to our state to help fund mental health support in all of our schools, because it’s clearly evident what a difference this makes,” she said.
Gretchen Maliska said she was disappointed in the audience.
“I want to say thank you to those of you who showed up as well,” said Maliska, but she added: “I find it extremely unfortunate that you come to us to speak about negative issues. The finger-wagging and the head-shaking, it’s really disappointing.”
That elicited some immediate blowback from the audience. Maliska backed up and started again.
“There are many layers to this, and I appreciate your passion, and I appreciate where you’re coming from,” she said. “I think that we have to think about a bigger picture.”
Her comments were drowned out by the audience, but board member and chair Esperanza Badillo-Diiorio tried to interject, so that Maliska could finish her comment.
“Clearly it doesn’t matter,” Maliska said.
She later told the audience she was sorry for what she said.
“I had a moment and I want to apologize,” she said.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 11:28 AM.
