Election 2025: 3 questions for Tumwater School Board candidates

The Olympian reached out to candidates in contested races in the Nov. 4 General Election for Thurston County to ask about pressing issues facing our community.

You’ll find the answers we received from candidates for the Tumwater School District’s Board of Directors below. You can also learn more about candidates through the county’s official Voters’ Pamphlet.

The Olympian will post similar stories on the Olympia City Council, Port of Olympia, Tumwater City Council, Lacey City Council, and Olympia School Board elections elsewhere on our website.

Ballot drop boxes are the most efficient way to return your ballot. There are 31 ballot drop boxes located across the county.

Tumwater School Board of Directors, District No. 1

What do you think should be done to boost enrollment and graduation rates?

Julie Watts: To increase enrollment, we need to improve outcomes for students and ensure our schools are places where students feel safe and know that they belong. I’m excited to get to work on the Tumwater School District’s strategic plan. The good news is that graduation rates in Tumwater Schools exceed the state average. But there is more to do. We need to identify early those children who are not on track for graduation and offer them academic support, counseling, and personalized learning environments that meet their specific needs.

Sarah Overbay: To boost enrollment and graduation rates, we need to rebuild trust and refocus on what schools do best: educating students. Enrollment is down statewide, and families are making choices based on confidence in their schools. That means partnering with parents, staying focused on academics and avoiding distractions rooted in ideology. To raise graduation rates, we should expand career and technical offerings at the secondary level, strengthen transition support between eighth and ninth grade, and closely monitor early chronic absenteeism. When students feel connected, supported, and see real-world value in their education, they stay engaged and succeed.

Do you support more police on school campuses?

Watts: Yes. Our school resource officers play a crucial role in safety. We have two school resource officers under our contract with the Tumwater Police Department. We are facing tough budget times in the district. However, when resources allow, I support expanding the contract to ensure SROs don’t need to split their time between schools.

Overbay: I think we have two phenomenal officers working for our district and supporting our schools. They provide a necessary safety resource and are developing great relationships with our students and staff. Ideally, I would love to see an officer assigned at every school but I don’t see that being a financial reality anytime soon. Thankfully I feel our current situation is sufficient and serving our district needs.

Does the school board need to do more to ensure all students feel welcome in Tumwater schools? If so, what should it do?

Watts: Yes. As a parent in the Tumwater School District, I know it is crucial that kids feel safe and know they belong. We need our school board to center in safety, equity, and belonging, not argue over whether some students – like LGBTQ+ kids, students of color, and those with disabilities - deserve to feel included. Creating a culture of inclusion and belonging must start with our school board. Our curriculum and libraries need to include materials about historically marginalized populations. We need to celebrate all races, ethnicities, and identities, including national months that honor those identities, such as Black History Month and Pride Month.

Overbay: We have a duty to model civility, respect, and goodwill in all we do. Our example sets the tone for our schools and shows students that differences can be handled with dignity. We serve families best when we stay focused on our mission to educate students with excellence and allow parents to guide their children in personal values and beliefs. That balance creates a truly welcoming environment where every student feels respected, every family is included and our schools remain focused on learning.

Tumwater School Board of Directors, District No. 3

What do you think should be done to boost enrollment and graduation rates?

Ty Kuehl (Incumbent): While many districts are facing enrollment declines, we have a responsibility to understand why some families are choosing other options — whether that’s homeschooling, private schools, or nearby districts. We need to listen, learn, and continuously improve so families choose Tumwater schools with confidence. That starts with student-driven decisions — protecting classrooms and the programs that keep kids engaged and excited to come to school. When students are involved in music, art, drama, clubs, and athletics, they attend more, connect more deeply, and perform better. Tumwater should continue to be a destination district known for strong relationships, rich opportunities, and a community that puts students first.

Daniel Mies: First and foremost I would say focusing on implementing the 2025-2030 strategic plan that TSD recently developed should help boost enrollment and lead to higher graduation rates. Beyond that, I would be interested in developing S.T.E.A.M. programs that are interconnected between the schools that set our students up for success in an ever changing world. I also think the high schools can do more about providing vocational classes, like wood and auto shop and create alternative pathways to success.

Do you support more police on school campuses?

Kuehl: I support keeping Tumwater schools safe through a balanced and student-centered approach. School Resource Officers can play a helpful role when they focus on relationship-building, mentorship, and prevention — not discipline. Safety also depends on strong communication, mental health supports, and a positive school culture where students feel connected and cared for. I believe in working collaboratively with school staff, families, and community partners to ensure every campus is both secure and welcoming. The goal is always the same: a safe environment where students and staff can focus on learning and growth.

Mies: I have spoken with many in the community and this has not been something voters have expressed as being deficient, so at this time I would support maintaining the excellence in the matter of police/resource officers that our district currently has.

Does the school board need to do more to ensure all students feel welcome in Tumwater schools? If so, what should it do?

Kuehl: Every student in Tumwater deserves to feel respected, included, and supported. The board’s role is to make sure our policies, communication, and resources reflect that commitment. We do that by listening to students and families, supporting great teachers, and ensuring programs and activities remain available for all kids — because involvement builds belonging. When students have access to clubs, arts, sports, and leadership opportunities, they connect with their school and their peers. Our focus should always be on creating schools where every student, regardless of background, feels valued and inspired to succeed.

Mies: Yes, the school board needs to do more to ensure students of all backgrounds and identities feel welcome in Tumwater schools. A simple example would be publically celebrating Pride Month; by publicly celebrating months like Pride Month, the district is acknowledging that you can show up as yourself and focus on learning grammar and arithmetic, instead of showing up in fear that who you are is somehow a problem. When students feel like they belong, they are able to succeed.

Tumwater School Board of Directors, District No. 4

What do you think should be done to boost enrollment and graduation rates?

Melissa Beard (incumbent): I am committed to a strategic plan that aligns the Board and staff on key goals, ensuring every student is known by name, strength, and need, and is prepared for their future. Our goals focus on: Strong Foundational Readiness: Preparing students with essential skills from the start; Safe, Supported, & Empowered Environment: Creating a nurturing atmosphere where students feel secure and valued; Continuous Academic Growth: Promoting ongoing learning and development for all students; and Readiness for a Changing World: Equipping students with skills to succeed globally.

The Board supports this through data-informed budget decisions, regular student progress reviews, and policy adoption supporting these goals. I also value student voices and family involvement, enhancing educational outcomes through engagement and communication. By focusing on these areas, I believe we can create an educational environment that attracts and retains students, ensuring their success and the prosperity of our community.

Aimee Staudt: Enrollment and graduation rates will improve when the Tumwater School District returns its focus to academics and rebuilds trust with families. Parents deserve to have a voice in decisions that affect their children, and restoring that partnership is essential. When the district prioritizes parental involvement and steers away from ideological distractions, confidence in our public schools will grow. Families will be more likely to re-enroll, and students will benefit from an environment centered on learning, not social agendas.

Do you support more police on school campuses?

Beard: I support having school resource officers on our campuses because they play a crucial role in building positive relationships with students and enhancing the safety of our schools. By partnering with the City of Tumwater, we can focus on providing quality education while benefiting from the expertise and support of these dedicated officers. This collaboration ensures a safe and nurturing environment where students can thrive, which is a priority for our community.

Staudt: I absolutely support more police and resource officers on school campuses. Every school across our nation should have a school resource officer on site 100% of the time. The Thurston County Democrats have come out publicly to say they are in favor of getting rid of all school resource officers. I would like to make our community aware of the fact that my opponent, Melissa Beard, has been endorsed by the very same Thurston County Democrats. Does her endorsement come with an agreement that this is on her agenda as well? I think the voters have a right to know her position on this. We cannot afford to lose our school resource officers-period! Keeping our children safe while at school should be a top priority of every individual throughout the entire district and community. To think that we have gotten to a point where we are teaching our children that police officers are bad, or not welcome on their school campus is a travesty, and an invitation to many potential dangerous situations that could otherwise be avoided.

Does the school board need to do more to ensure all students feel welcome in Tumwater schools? If so, what should it do?

Beard: Yes. While our dedicated staff works tirelessly to support students of diverse backgrounds and identities, the Board needs to also do this work.

To address this, I am committed to taking proactive steps to show the community that everyone is welcome in our district. I propose passing a resolution that clearly states our dedication to supporting the needs of all students. Additionally, I believe in engaging with students and families beyond the formal setting of Board meetings, which can sometimes feel uninviting. I am eager to hear suggestions and ideas from the community on how the Board can better connect and support everyone in our district.

Staudt: Public schools should be welcoming to every student, no matter their background. The core mission of our schools must be to educate each child and prepare them for success — not to divide students by labels or identity. When the focus stays on academics, every student has the opportunity to grow, achieve, and graduate ready to contribute to their community.

Educators are to teach core subjects and equip students with the skills they need, raising achievement, improving test scores, and supporting graduation. Their role is not to advance social or political agendas. Personal matters are best handled by families and appropriate professionals, not imposed in the classroom.

Tumwater School Board of Directors, District No. 5

What do you think should be done to boost enrollment and graduation rates?

Rob Warner: No response

Mike McGowan: Tumwater schools have a very good reputation for academics. The 3 Tumwater high schools have on-time graduation rates between 89-95 %. We need to maintain this.

Enrollment which is related to budget matters and therefore the quality of education, is more problematic. Enrollment has increased slightly this past year after several years of decreasing numbers. Increasing enrollment is related to community growth and projections are for an increase in growth and enrollment. What to be done in the meantime? Find the money, renew Career Pathways (CTE), such as Forest Management and Stream Ecology, Aviation Maintenance, and Architectural Design, and then publicize these dual credit opportunities to demonstrate what Tumwater schools have to offer.

Do you support more police on school campuses?

Warner: No response

McGowan: All students and educators deserve to feel safe in their classrooms. Regular audits of security at all campuses should be in order. The methods of how to achieve this may vary from school to school. Once this study is done, then correct practices can be initiated. These practices include personnel, training and the physical layout of campuses.

Does the school board need to do more to ensure all students feel welcome in Tumwater schools? If so, what should it do?

Warner: No response

McGowan: Absolutely. First, the Tumwater School Board needs to convey a welcoming community. Then, the school board needs to reach out to students, educators, and families of all backgrounds and identities. This can be achieved by accessible school board meetings, renewed communication and community outreach. The Tumwater School Board should meet with students and their families via open houses and board member visits to the schools.

This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 5:00 AM.

Ty Vinson

The Olympian

360-357-0201

Ty Vinson covers the City of Olympia and keeps tabs on Tumwater and other communities in Thurston County. He joined The Olympian in 2021. Before that, he earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism at Indiana University. In college, he worked as an intern at the Northwest Indiana Times, the Oregonian and the Arizona Republic as a Pulliam Fellow. Support my work with a digital subscription