Latest news with #RevisedCodeofWashington
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gang awareness event held in Ephrata
May 12—EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District organized an informational session on youth gang involvement Thursday night, bringing together educators, law enforcement and community members to address youth gang concerns in the region. The presentation, led by North Central Education Services District Assessment Coordinator Hunter McLeod aimed to equip parents and educators with the knowledge needed to recognize and counteract gang influences among students, organizers said. "Recognizing the reality of youth gang involvement in our community is the first step towards addressing it," said Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray. "We must come together as a community to support our youth and mitigate these issues early." The Landscape McLeod noted that nearly 90% of gang members have had police contact by the age of 16, showing that the draw of gang involvement begins very young. That figure underscores the urgency of early intervention and community awareness. McLeod's presentation emphasized that while Ephrata may not be as severely impacted as other towns in the area, the presence of gangs is still real and significant. McLeod highlighted a definition provided by the Revised Code of Washington, stating that a gang is "a group which consists of three or more persons with identifiable leadership who regularly conspire for criminal purposes." The Sureños and Norteños are two prominent street gang factions in Grant County, she said, primarily known for their rivalry and association with respective prison gangs. Sureños members are affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, La Eme. For the Sureños, blue and black, the letter "M", the number 13 and LA Dodgers are examples commonly found to represent themselves. Norteños are aligned with the Nuestra Familia. For the Norteños, the color red, the number 14, Norte, the letter N, the huelga bird, and NorCal references are common symbols representing the group. Watchful Parents The presentation outlined specific behaviors and indicators parents should watch for to keep their children away from gangs. Some warning signs discussed included being mindful of doodling in notebooks, watching for consistent clothing colors, monitoring social media activity, keeping an eye on tech and making sure firearms are secured. McLeod said students often doodle gang-related symbols or numbers, such as 13 or 14, in their notebooks. For instance, a drawing incorporating these numbers could signify gang affiliation or that the student has been approached by or exposed to gangs in some way. Young people may signal gang affiliation through specific colors. Wearing colors associated with particular gangs can make children targets for rival groups. It's important for parents to understand that clothing choices can reflect ties to gang culture. There has also been a trend of using a rosary with colored beads or bead patterns to signify gang affiliation or rank in a gang. While school districts in the area haven't banned the wearing of rosaries, students are asked to wear them discreetly to ensure they aren't used in association with gang activity on school campuses. Gangs use social media extensively for recruiting and organizing, McLeod said. McLeod said some common apps being used to organize include: Instagram, Whatsapp, Cashapp, Snapchat, X, TikTok, YikYak, Discord, Kik, Reddit and Tumblr. She also said another type of app called a vault app can hide photos, documents and other apps parents should watch for. Her advice for parents is to visit the app store on the student's phone and type in "vault app," "hide photos," or "secret app." If any of them have "open" next to them instead of "get," it means the app is installed on the phone. During the presentation, she showed several photos of students who had taken photos with firearms, paraphernalia and gang-affiliated merchandise from their homes. "Many parents remain unaware of the platforms their children are using, and this lack of knowledge can lead to unintended risks," McLeod said. "It's crucial for parents to engage and understand what their kids are doing online." Share location: Consider using apps such as Find my Friends or Life 360 to be able to see the location of the child. McLeod recommends having conversations on where your child is going and what they're doing. "They share their location with me, not because I'm a creep and I want to know where they're at all the time, but when it's 10 o'clock at night and I don't know where they are, I can find them really easily and I don't have to worry," McLeod said. One of the recommendations McLeod made was to do random, unannounced bedroom checks to ensure children aren't sneaking out at night. "That's where we need to be starting and talking and coming together, family has a very big influence in this," McLeod said. "You need to be doing bedroom checks. (You) need to know what our kids are doing." McLeod said the responsibility of securing firearms belongs to the gun owner and children should not be able to access them. Area law enforcement has repeatedly told Columbia Basin Herald staff that firearms being stolen from unsecured vehicles often end up being used in other crimes. Bringing them inside and securing them in a gun safe helps protect them as property and keep them out of the hands of criminals such as those involved in gang activity. McLeod said she monitors her own children's social media activity. She has access to all of their passwords and accounts so she can check them. She said a great deal of gang activity is organized through social media channels, so monitoring those platforms can help keep parents informed. McLeod recommends that parents know who their children are hanging out with. This includes meeting their friends and parents of friends if the child will be at their house. She said she often finds parents know of their friends and their families, but haven't met them. "That's what we're seeing more and more of and not knowing who the people are is a really big problem." McLeod said it's also important for parents to talk to their children and ask questions when what their sons and daughters say just doesn't add up. Parents should approach the conversation by asking questions rather than seeming to attack the child with accusations. A Community Problem One of the key themes of the night was the idea of community involvement in supporting at-risk youth. Law enforcement officials highlighted their collaborative efforts with the school district to monitor gang-related activities and engage directly with problematic behaviors. "We have an active dialogue between the schools and law enforcement," said Ephrata PD Cpt. Troy Froewiss, Captain with the Ephrata Police Department. "When we identify a young person involved in gang activities, we work with school personnel to provide the necessary support to help them disengage from that lifestyle." To ensure a proactive approach, parents were encouraged to participate in community clean-ups and reporting of gang graffiti and activity. McLeod said, "When gang symbols or graffiti are reported in a timely manner, it sends a message that such behavior is not tolerated in our community." Presenters said Ephrata residents must remain vigilant and support one another to create safe environments for the children who live there. Parents are urged to familiarize themselves with signs of gang activity and to communicate openly with their children about the risks associated with gang involvement. "This is just the beginning of our efforts to educate and engage our community about the reality of youth gangs," Murray said. "Together, we can create a supportive framework for our children." As the community moves forward, it is clear that ongoing dialogue, education, and partnership will be crucial in combating the challenges posed by youth gangs in Ephrata. The school district aims to host further discussions and workshops and encourages community members to participate actively in future events. The Ephrata School District has an online, anonymous reporting website where parents, students and community members can report suspicious behavior. "If you were to take anything away from this, it's really making sure that when we see concerning behavior, we say something," McLeod said. The website can be found at The Ephrata Police Department can also take information from the public about potential concerns. To contact EPD, email EPDcontact@ or CrimeTips@
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Yahoo
Gang awareness event held in Ephrata
May 12—EPHRATA — The Ephrata School District organized an informational session on youth gang involvement Thursday night, bringing together educators, law enforcement and community members to address youth gang concerns in the region. The presentation, led by North Central Education Services District Assessment Coordinator Hunter McLeod aimed to equip parents and educators with the knowledge needed to recognize and counteract gang influences among students, organizers said. "Recognizing the reality of youth gang involvement in our community is the first step towards addressing it," said Ephrata School District Superintendent Ken Murray. "We must come together as a community to support our youth and mitigate these issues early." The Landscape McLeod noted that nearly 90% of gang members have had police contact by the age of 16, showing that the draw of gang involvement begins very young. That figure underscores the urgency of early intervention and community awareness. McLeod's presentation emphasized that while Ephrata may not be as severely impacted as other towns in the area, the presence of gangs is still real and significant. McLeod highlighted a definition provided by the Revised Code of Washington, stating that a gang is "a group which consists of three or more persons with identifiable leadership who regularly conspire for criminal purposes." The Sureños and Norteños are two prominent street gang factions in Grant County, she said, primarily known for their rivalry and association with respective prison gangs. Sureños members are affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, La Eme. For the Sureños, blue and black, the letter "M", the number 13 and LA Dodgers are examples commonly found to represent themselves. Norteños are aligned with the Nuestra Familia. For the Norteños, the color red, the number 14, Norte, the letter N, the huelga bird, and NorCal references are common symbols representing the group. Watchful Parents The presentation outlined specific behaviors and indicators parents should watch for to keep their children away from gangs. Some warning signs discussed included being mindful of doodling in notebooks, watching for consistent clothing colors, monitoring social media activity, keeping an eye on tech and making sure firearms are secured. McLeod said students often doodle gang-related symbols or numbers, such as 13 or 14, in their notebooks. For instance, a drawing incorporating these numbers could signify gang affiliation or that the student has been approached by or exposed to gangs in some way. Young people may signal gang affiliation through specific colors. Wearing colors associated with particular gangs can make children targets for rival groups. It's important for parents to understand that clothing choices can reflect ties to gang culture. There has also been a trend of using a rosary with colored beads or bead patterns to signify gang affiliation or rank in a gang. While school districts in the area haven't banned the wearing of rosaries, students are asked to wear them discreetly to ensure they aren't used in association with gang activity on school campuses. Gangs use social media extensively for recruiting and organizing, McLeod said. McLeod said some common apps being used to organize include: Instagram, Whatsapp, Cashapp, Snapchat, X, TikTok, YikYak, Discord, Kik, Reddit and Tumblr. She also said another type of app called a vault app can hide photos, documents and other apps parents should watch for. Her advice for parents is to visit the app store on the student's phone and type in "vault app," "hide photos," or "secret app." If any of them have "open" next to them instead of "get," it means the app is installed on the phone. During the presentation, she showed several photos of students who had taken photos with firearms, paraphernalia and gang-affiliated merchandise from their homes. "Many parents remain unaware of the platforms their children are using, and this lack of knowledge can lead to unintended risks," McLeod said. "It's crucial for parents to engage and understand what their kids are doing online." Share location: Consider using apps such as Find my Friends or Life 360 to be able to see the location of the child. McLeod recommends having conversations on where your child is going and what they're doing. "They share their location with me, not because I'm a creep and I want to know where they're at all the time, but when it's 10 o'clock at night and I don't know where they are, I can find them really easily and I don't have to worry," McLeod said. One of the recommendations McLeod made was to do random, unannounced bedroom checks to ensure children aren't sneaking out at night. "That's where we need to be starting and talking and coming together, family has a very big influence in this," McLeod said. "You need to be doing bedroom checks. (You) need to know what our kids are doing." McLeod said the responsibility of securing firearms belongs to the gun owner and children should not be able to access them. Area law enforcement has repeatedly told Columbia Basin Herald staff that firearms being stolen from unsecured vehicles often end up being used in other crimes. Bringing them inside and securing them in a gun safe helps protect them as property and keep them out of the hands of criminals such as those involved in gang activity. McLeod said she monitors her own children's social media activity. She has access to all of their passwords and accounts so she can check them. She said a great deal of gang activity is organized through social media channels, so monitoring those platforms can help keep parents informed. McLeod recommends that parents know who their children are hanging out with. This includes meeting their friends and parents of friends if the child will be at their house. She said she often finds parents know of their friends and their families, but haven't met them. "That's what we're seeing more and more of and not knowing who the people are is a really big problem." McLeod said it's also important for parents to talk to their children and ask questions when what their sons and daughters say just doesn't add up. Parents should approach the conversation by asking questions rather than seeming to attack the child with accusations. A Community Problem One of the key themes of the night was the idea of community involvement in supporting at-risk youth. Law enforcement officials highlighted their collaborative efforts with the school district to monitor gang-related activities and engage directly with problematic behaviors. "We have an active dialogue between the schools and law enforcement," said Ephrata PD Cpt. Troy Froewiss, Captain with the Ephrata Police Department. "When we identify a young person involved in gang activities, we work with school personnel to provide the necessary support to help them disengage from that lifestyle." To ensure a proactive approach, parents were encouraged to participate in community clean-ups and reporting of gang graffiti and activity. McLeod said, "When gang symbols or graffiti are reported in a timely manner, it sends a message that such behavior is not tolerated in our community." Presenters said Ephrata residents must remain vigilant and support one another to create safe environments for the children who live there. Parents are urged to familiarize themselves with signs of gang activity and to communicate openly with their children about the risks associated with gang involvement. "This is just the beginning of our efforts to educate and engage our community about the reality of youth gangs," Murray said. "Together, we can create a supportive framework for our children." As the community moves forward, it is clear that ongoing dialogue, education, and partnership will be crucial in combating the challenges posed by youth gangs in Ephrata. The school district aims to host further discussions and workshops and encourages community members to participate actively in future events. The Ephrata School District has an online, anonymous reporting website where parents, students and community members can report suspicious behavior. "If you were to take anything away from this, it's really making sure that when we see concerning behavior, we say something," McLeod said. The website can be found at The Ephrata Police Department can also take information from the public about potential concerns. To contact EPD, email EPDcontact@ or CrimeTips@
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ferguson signed 23 bills into law this week
Apr. 9—OLYMPIA — Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed 23 bills into law in the past week. The bills change laws covering issues from suicide prevention to education funding to vehicle inspections. Sodium nitrite Substitute House Bill 1209, known as "Tyler's Law," introducing strict regulations on the sale and transfer of sodium nitrite due to its significant health risks, particularly regarding suicide attempts among vulnerable populations. The legislation mandates that only verified commercial entities can purchase sodium nitrite and requires prominent labeling that warns of the dangers associated with ingestion, including potential death, with penalties of up to $1 million for violations. Driver licensing Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1439 aims to modify motor vehicle and driver licensing laws to better align with federal definitions, correct technical errors and streamline existing requirements. This legislation includes amendments to multiple sections of the Revised Code of Washington, covering topics from license revocation periods to odometer disclosure requirements and the handling of driver records. The bill enhances privacy protections for vehicle and vessel owners, stipulates conditions for the release of personal information and establishes penalties for misuse of disclosed data. Medical care exiting juvenile detention Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5128 aims to enhance medical services for individuals in juvenile detention facilities. The bill ensures the continuity of Medicaid enrollment for incarcerated youth by mandating that medical assistance benefits be suspended rather than terminated during confinement. It also establishes protocols for reinstating coverage immediately upon release and requires the Washington Health Care Authority to collaborate with various agencies to streamline the process. The bill also emphasizes the importance of providing screening, diagnostic services and targeted case management for eligible juveniles in the days leading up to their release. The legislation is set to take effect on July 27, 2025. Long-term care worker requirements Substitute House Bill 1142 aims to standardize training and certification requirements for long-term care workers providing in-home care to family members, including spouses and domestic partners. Key provisions include a mandate for long-term care workers to complete training within the first 120 days of becoming caregivers, with varying hours of required training based on the recipient's needs; for instance, spouses or domestic partners must complete 15 hours of basic training and six hours of focused training. The legislation, effective July 27, 2025, also incorporates rules to accommodate training requirements during emergencies, with the goal of ensuring that caregivers can meet standards even in adverse conditions, with specific expiration terms set for certain provisions. Community-based care and medication Substitute House Bill 1720 aims to expand the types of medication assistance available to residents in community-based care settings, such as residential programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, adult family homes, and assisted living facilities. The bill amends the definition of "medication assistance" to allow nonpractitioners to help individuals with self-administration of legend drugs, including controlled substances, under specific conditions outlined by a practitioner. Under the law, medication assistance excludes certain activities, such as assistance with intravenous or injectable medications, with limited exceptions for devices aiding in diabetes management. Accessory dwellings Substitute House Bill 1353 establishes a self-certification program for accessory dwelling unit project permit applications. Under this legislation, effective Oct. 1, 2025, registered architects can self-certify compliance with building code requirements. Each participating city is mandated to create specific rules for the self-certification process, including professional qualifications, random audits of submissions, penalties for non-compliance and maintenance of professional liability insurance, while ensuring that architects provide a certification form that includes necessary attestations and acknowledgments from property owners. Growth Management Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1135 aims to ensure local government compliance with the Growth Management Act. The legislation, in effect July 27, 2025, outlines a process for reviewing local planning efforts, mandating that the Washington State Board conduct compliance hearings to issue findings on whether counties or cities have adequately addressed noncompliance issues identified in their growth management plans. If a locality remains noncompliant, the board can recommend sanctions to the governor while also providing options for technical assistance to facilitate corrections. HIV treatment Senate Bill 5577 mandates Medicaid coverage for all FDA-approved HIV antiviral drugs without prior authorization or step therapy. Effective July 1, 2025, the legislation aims to streamline access to essential medications for Apple Health clients enrolled in both fee-for-service and managed care programs. Hematological screening Senate Bill 5244 introduces an exemption allowing staff at Women, Infants, and Children clinics to perform hematological screening tests. This legislative measure received unanimous support from both the house and senate, culminating in the Governor's signature on April 4. The bill amends RCW 18.360.090, clarifying that WIC clinic personnel may administer specific blood tests—namely hematological tests via heel-stick, toe-stick, or finger-stick sampling—as part of their roles. The amendment takes effect on July 27, 2025. Early learning funding House Bill 1314 amends various sections of the early learning facilities grant and loan program to enhance support for early childhood education. The bill, which goes into effect July 27, 2025, establishes the Ruth LeCocq Kagi early learning facilities revolving and development accounts, aimed at providing state matching funds for the planning, renovation, purchase and construction of early learning facilities. Additionally, it encourages private and local government funding partnerships, ensures a focus on projects benefiting low-income children and allows for emergency grants to address urgent needs within eligible organizations, including school districts and tribal compact schools. University library access for health officials House Bill 1190 expands access to the University of Washington Health Sciences Library for additional health professions. The bill amends RCW 43.70.110 and outlines provisions for licensing fees charged to healthcare professionals, including exemptions for certain categories, such as retired active physicians and municipal emergency services. Furthermore, the legislation, in effect July 27, 2025, stipulates that a portion of the license fees — up to an additional $25—will be transferred to the University of Washington to support the health sciences library. Uniform Antitrust Premerger Notification Act Senate Bill 5122 enacts the Uniform Antitrust Premerger Notification Act, which aims to streamline the reporting process for certain mergers and acquisitions. Entities engaged in transactions that meet specified thresholds must submit a Hart-Scott-Rodino form, complete with relevant additional documentation, to the Washington Attorney General to enhance regulatory oversight. The legislation also establishes confidentiality protections for submitted materials, permits reciprocal information sharing with other states and outlines penalties for noncompliance. Nursing assistant regulations Senate Bill 5051 consolidates regulatory authority for nursing assistants and amends the Revised Code of Washington. It establishes a 17-member Board of Nursing, appointed by the governor, consisting of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and public members. The bill outlines qualifications for board members and their duties, including oversight of certification and training programs for nursing assistants. Sections take effect July 1, 2026, and some amendments June 30, 2027. Health care and prescription drug tech Substitute House Bill 1706 aims to align Washington's prior authorization processes for health care services and prescription drugs with federal guidelines, enhancing efficiency in decision-making and notifications for providers. Effective July 27, 2025, health carriers must comply with specific time frames for electronic and non-electronic prior authorization requests, with the goal of significantly reducing wait times and ensuring that requests are addressed promptly. The legislation also mandates the establishment of interoperable application programming interfaces to automate prior authorization processes. State corporations amendment Senate Bill 5006 amends various sections of the state's corporation acts, set to take effect July 27, 2025. Key provisions include clarifying the authority of corporate boards to issue rights, options or warrants for shares and defining the establishment and functions of board committees. The bill also outlines revisions related to mergers, shareholder dissent rights and the conditions under which corporate dissolution can be approved. Clinical experience for IMG Substitute Senate Bill 5118 updates the requirements for the clinical experience license for international medical graduates. The legislation allows the Washington State Medical Commission to issue limited licenses to IMGs who have been nominated by specific state departments, provided they meet qualifications. Additionally, the commission retains the discretion to waive certain requirements for applicants facing hardships, including those affecting refugees or individuals subjected to persecution. The effective date for the new provisions is set for July 27, 2025. Health carrier reporting Senate Bill 5084 mandates that health carriers annually report their primary care expenditures. The legislation empowers the state's insurance commissioner to define the reporting requirements and ensures that submitted data will remain public information. Effective July 27, 2025, this bill aims to improve accountability surrounding primary care funding, aligning with existing efforts to establish expenditure targets in Washington's healthcare system. Backlog of vehicle inspections Senate Bill 5462 addresses the backlog of vehicle inspections in the state. Signed into law by the governor on April 4, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2026. The legislation amends existing vehicle title inspection requirements, mandating that applicants provide a vehicle inspection certificate from the Washington State Patrol or authorized inspectors for specific vehicles. Amending Social Work Advisory Committee House Bill 1234 amends the existing framework of the advisory committee for mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists and social workers. The revised committee will consist of nine members: four licensed professionals in mental health, marriage and family therapy, and social work, along with three consumer representatives from the public who are not affiliated with these professions. Broadcasting Senate Bill 5457 amends tax regulations for radio and television broadcasting businesses. The bill establishes a gross income tax rate of 0.484 percent but allows for certain revenue exemptions, specifically from network, national and regional advertising. This legislation, effective from July 27, 2025, aims to clarify the tax structure for broadcasting entities operating within the state, ensuring that revenue generated from out-of-state audiences is excluded from taxation. Journalism tax exemption House Bill 1060, passed by the Washington State Legislature in March 2025, amends existing tax laws to provide exemptions for certain activities related to newspaper publishing and eligible digital content. Specifically, the bill allows tax exemptions for businesses primarily engaged in printing and publishing newspapers or digital content. St. Edward State Park Second Substitute House Bill 1024 grants the State Parks and Recreation Commission expanded leasing authority at St. Edward State Park. Kirkland. The amended legislation allows for leases exceeding 20 years, specifically for properties such as the main seminary building, pool building and gymnasium. Ferry captains House Bill 1511 modifies the responsibilities of ferry vessel captains and introduces provisions for a potential reorganization of bargaining units within the Washington State Ferries crew. Specifically, the bill clarifies the captain's authoritative role in vessel operations and mandates a vote by the captains to determine their inclusion in a combined bargaining unit with masters and pilots by August 2025, impacting collective bargaining agreements effective July 1, 2026.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MLSD suspends protections for trans students
Mar. 24—MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School District school board suspended policy 3211, which protects transgender students from harassment, intimidation and bullying, at the March 20 regular board meeting. The board also sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education asking for federal intervention for the contradictions between federal and state laws and policies regarding transgender students in athletics, bathrooms and dressing rooms. "The biggest thing that (the policy suspension) is going to do is keep biological boys out of female sports and out of girls' private dressing rooms and restrooms," Board Chair Kirryn Jensen told the Columbia Basin Herald. MLSD district staff have said they are unaware of any transgender students participating in athletics. Prior to the vote, local resident Matthew Paluch recommended the board be more cautious about the issue considering MLSD's financial position that it is still recovering from, and reminded the board to consider students' mental health. He said that, while he understood the board is trying to do what they feel is best, there are concerns that should be factored in. "The primary responsibility of the school district is to educate children, " Paluch said. "Currently, there are no transgender girls competing in girls sports in Moses Lake. Changing the district policy in a way that violates state law would allow the state to withhold funding, which would effectively shut down the district due to the financial situation the district is in." It is uncertain how exactly the policy suspension will impact funding for MLSD or its students' ability to participate in Washington Interscholastic Activities Association-run events. The Columbia Basin Herald is reaching out to OSPI and WIAA to gather more information on those issues. Paluch strongly cautioned the board against making the decision to suspend the policy. "You cannot afford to have any state funds withheld, and there is no reserve to cover operations during any interruption of state funding, the state has nothing to lose if they decide to make an example of the district, but we have everything to lose," he said. Previously At the previous March 5 board meeting, the board voted unanimously to send a letter to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction Superintendent Chris Reykdal, Attorney General Nick Brown and Governor Bob Ferguson regarding the district changing its policies to align with federal law, instead of state law for transgender athletes. According to Jensen, the letter was written by a concerned citizen. She said she cannot disclose who the citizen is. OSPI's Equity and Civil Rights Office responded to the district's letter March 6. The letter reiterated that the board's intention to limit athletic eligibility based on gender identity contradicted state nondiscrimination laws enshrined in Chapters 28A.640 and 28A.642 of the Revised Code of Washington. OSPI said if the board or district is unable to "voluntarily resolve these concerns" OSPI may take further action in regard to the district's new policies. The Columbia Basin Herald published an article about both of these letters, which can be found here: Warden School District has sent letters similar to the MLSD documents to both Washington state and federal agencies. Policy 3211 The MLSD board suspended policy 3211. Board Member Ryan Coulston voted in opposition to the suspension, while the other four board members voted in favor. The policy reads: "State law requires the district to adopt a policy and procedure that do the following: (1) incorporate the office of the superintendent of public instruction's rules and guidelines developed under RCW 28A.642.020 to eliminate discrimination in Washington public schools on the basis of gender identity and expression; (2) address the unique challenges and needs faced by transgender students in public schools; and (3) describe the application of the district policy and procedure prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying to transgender students." The link to the policy can be found here: Jensen said she is unsure what the next steps will be for the district. The policy is only suspended, which means it can be edited and reinstated or the board could choose to eliminate it permanently. "A lot of it is going to depend on what happens in the upcoming weeks," Jensen said. "We don't know what the state is going to do. We don't know what the federal government is going to do. There is just so much happening here right now, that we just don't know." There was a lot of discussion prior to the vote on the policy between board members, as well as two public comments addressing the matter. "You know, the topic in my mind is directly related to discrimination by race, by skin color. I mean, if we're, if we are allowing the, I guess, segregation from girls' sports and allowing just anybody to enter girls' sports or girls often lose their restrooms, that, in my mind, is the same as we have a race issue," Jensen said. "If that follows in the same train of thought, for me, it's worth discriminating and not giving girls an able and fair chance." However, Coulston then brought up a statistic made in a public comment earlier in the night that more than half of transgender and nonbinary students have seriously considered suicide and nearly one in five have attempted suicide. "The statistic that was shared earlier was that at least half of the LGBTQ+ community has contemplated suicide, and I think that that's probably extremely low because I grew up in a two-parent household with a Christian background," Coulston said. "I had my athletics that kept me busy, I had my church that kept me busy, and I contemplated suicide too. I had every reason not to, right? And so, growing up, there's still issues that we need to work through, mental health issues." Coulston said the board should be focusing on policies to prevent bullying and protect all students, regardless of their identity. Coulston then voted no on the policy saying he would like further time to review the policy's pros and cons. He then asked what the goal and timeline of suspending the policy was. "No timeline," Jensen said. "As you know, if you've been watching the news, we have no idea what is going to happen in an hour, let alone tomorrow, for sure. So, I think at this point, just the fact that it is suspended can give us some time to really just kind of muddle through the rest of it. I think we have a lot to talk about, and it can come or go with any faction of this. So I mean, there is just so much that goes into it and there is so much happening right now that we just don't know." Another Letter The board also decided, unanimously, to send a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education asking for federal intervention for the contradictions between federal and state law regarding transgender students in athletics, bathrooms and dressing rooms. The letter can be found here: The letter opens by saying the board has decided to send this letter regarding recent directives by the Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education Craig Trainor and an executive order from President Donald J. Trump. The letter says the board took immediate action to follow federal policy and unanimously voted March 6 to follow said directives. "On March 6th, 2025, our District received an email from the State of Washington, Superintendent of Public Instruction," reads the letter. "This letter and our current State Law puts our school district in conflict with the directives by the Federal Government, and the President of the United States. The Moses Lake Board of Directors is seeking your guidance and help in this urgent matter." The letter said MLSD intends to follow the directives from the federal level by removing policies that contradict the federal policies. "The Moses Lake School district is a small school district in Washington State with approximately 8,000 students," reads the letter. "We do not have the resources or want to use the limited resources meant for the children we serve, to be used in endless litigation against Governor Bob Ferguson, or Superintendent Chris Reykdal." The letter concludes by saying that Washington State law allows transgender individuals to use whatever bathroom facility or locker room they prefer, which the board claims violates the civil liberties of the female students in their care. None of the letters address transgender students who were born biologically female at birth and may be transitioning from female to male. Paluch said he felt the issue was one that MLSD shouldn't be stepping in the middle of unnecessarily. "Making policy changes mentioned in your letter to the governor and OSPI would be mismanagement, and it would violate your primary duty of ensuring students are receiving an education since none of the students in the district have been directly affected by transgender girls competing girls sports, I don't think it's appropriate for the district to risk everything to take a stand on this issue," he said.
