PULLMAN, WA – Two online petitions have been launched in the wake of the controversial decision from the Pullman School District to eliminate the high school athletics & activities director position.

In late April officials eliminated the post held by Wendy Kruger who was just honored with a statewide award. Superintendent Dr. Bob Maxwell told high school staff that the decision was due to the district’s budget shortfall. The PHS Athletics & Activities Director duties have been reassigned to a new assistant principal post.

The move led hundreds of concerned residents to attend the April 30th Pullman School Board meeting. Dozens of people urged the trustees to keep Kruger in the position. With a two to two tie vote, lacking a majority, the board upheld the decision. Trustee Amanda Tanner was not at the meeting.

An online petition has been launched urging the board to reverse the decision and keep Kruger as PHS Athletics & Activities Director. Last week trustees filled the new PHS Assistant Principal/Athletics & Activities Director job.

Another online petition has been started asking board members to increase transparency, public access and improve decorum during their meetings. The petition notes that the contentious April meeting restricted in-person public attendance to the number of chairs in the room. Over a hundred people had to watch the meeting on their digital devices in nearby classrooms down the hall. The petition asks trustees to explain their policy for restricting in person access during the meeting. The petitioners want Board Chair Nathan Roberts to assure the public that his personal “comfort” levels will not be used as a basis to deny public access to meetings in the future. It also requests that the Pullman School Board meet in a larger space.

During that April meeting Chair Roberts aggressively gaveled down the audience multiple times for cheering. Chair Roberts threatened to end the meeting more than once. The petition argues that during other Pullman School Board meetings cheering is allowed when citizens speak positively about the district and sometimes it’s encouraged by Chair Roberts. The petition points out that uneven use of the rules sends a troubling message that dissent is unwelcome and support for the district is celebrated.

You can find a link for the online petitions here  and here.

The petitions already have hundreds of signatures.