Concerned Community Members
Pullman, WA
June 1, 2025

To: Pullman School District Board of Directors
Attn: Board President Mr. Nathan Roberts
240 SE Dexter Street
Pullman, WA 99163

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RE: Concerns Regarding Transparency and Public Access at the April 30, 2025 School Board Meeting

Dear President Roberts and Members of the Board,

We, the undersigned community members, are writing to express our deep concern regarding the handling of public access at the Pullman School Board meeting held on April 30, 2025. Specifically, we believe the decisions made to limit physical attendance—despite clear precedent, adequate space, and advance notice—represent a serious departure from the standards of transparency and public participation guaranteed under Washington State law.

Open Public Meetings Act Concerns

The Washington State Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), RCW 42.30, requires that meetings of governing bodies be open and accessible to the public. While reasonable limitations for fire code or safety may apply, the restrictions imposed at the April 30, 2025 meeting appeared arbitrary and unjustified. We note the following:

1. The board was informed in advance that a large public turnout was expected.
2. A request was made to move the meeting to the auditorium—a venue the district has used in the past to accommodate large audiences.
3. The board chose not to relocate the meeting, despite having sufficient time and precedent to do so.
4. The board room was not at capacity according to fire code, yet community members were turned away based on the number of chairs that had been set out—an arbitrary and personal standard cited by the board president.
5. Over 100 community members were forced to watch the meeting from classrooms down the hall or via mobile devices, effectively segregating public participation.

Inconsistency in Public Comment Protocols

We are also concerned about the unequal enforcement of decorum during public comment periods. At this meeting, applause was actively discouraged—particularly when speakers voiced dissent regarding administrative decisions. In contrast, during previous meetings where support for the district was expressed, applause was permitted and even encouraged by the board president himself.

This uneven application of rules sends a troubling message: that expressions of dissent are unwelcome, while those in support of district leadership are celebrated. Such conduct erodes public trust and undermines the fairness of the forum.

Request for Immediate Action

We respectfully request the following:

1. A written explanation of the criteria used to determine meeting room capacity at the April 30, 2025 board meeting, including documentation of any fire code or safety determinations.

2. A commitment to relocate future meetings to larger venues (such as the auditorium) when a significant public turnout is expected or when a matter of broad public interest is on the agenda.

3. A consistent, clearly articulated public comment policy that is applied equally regardless of the speaker’s viewpoint or the audience’s reaction.

4. Assurance from the board president that personal “comfort” levels will not be used as a basis to deny the public access to meetings in the future.

We believe the Pullman School Board has a duty not only to uphold the letter of the law but to embrace its spirit—ensuring that the public has meaningful access to the decision-making process, especially when community livelihoods, student opportunities, and trust in governance are at stake.

We appreciate your attention to these concerns and look forward to your public response.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned