'Save our education'

Carrying signs with phrases such as “Save our education,” over 150 Yelm Community Schools (YCS) students voiced their concerns over the district’s recent levy failure in a peaceful protest on Wednesday, May 15, at Yelm City Park, and the corner of First Street and Mosman Avenue Southeast.

At the park, students set up a sign-making stand to allow participants to write their concerns to display to commuters driving near the park. Throughout the morning hours, several Yelm Police Department representatives were present, including Chief Rob Carlson, Det. Sgt. Anthony Sparkuhl and officers Averie Ford and Chris Seymour.

Due to the levy failures, at least 200 YCS classified staff and teachers received notice their positions were either being eliminated or amended as a result of the district’s initial attempt of cutting $15 million from its budget for the 2024-25 school year.

Yelm High School junior Eagen Wall, one of the event organizers, said students attended the walk out to protest more than just the levy failure.

“Over 200 of our staff got cut, and what we’re really angry about is the 67% of people that didn’t vote. They didn’t cast a vote and didn't even care about what happens to the school, or what happens to the students that are directly being affected,” Wall told the Nisqually Valley News on May 15. “We want everyone to realize that this isn’t targeted towards the district office, the teachers or the school itself. It isn’t even targeted towards voters. Our goal is to just try to bring voter awareness up. We want to bring that 67% down to the lowest number that’s physically possible.”

Wall said a lot of his classmates attended the protest to voice concerns over potential program cuts, as well. Several signs at the walk out sported messages like “save the arts” and “football isn’t the same without the marching bands” to acknowledge support of clubs at the school.

“There won’t be a lot of money left to fund the smaller clubs like the gamer club, and all of the other clubs deemed ‘unnecessary,’ ” Wall said. “It’s very sad to see that my senior year is going to end up not as fun as it was during my freshman, sophomore and junior years. It’s sad to see all the underclassmen that will have to deal with this. The entire point of this is to bring a peaceful demonstration and show that our community is unified and together at once. Nothing can split us apart. We’re bonded together in the place we live, the people we talk to, the businesses we support and especially in our kids.”

Wall also emphasized the importance of voting. He said, even though voting measures may not seem like they affect individual people, they do affect the younger generation. He said, without planning for student futures, they will grow up not feeling “nurtured and passionate” about school and extracurricular activities.

Wall described the protest as a humbling experience, considering how many YCS students joined the walkout. The event originally started with three people but quickly grew into something much larger.

“To see it prosper and grow into 150 to 200 people, it’s very humbling to see members of our community come together, unified, with the same interests and goals,” Wall said.

Yelm High School student AJ Swearengin said the protest was to spread awareness that “this is what (is being done) to students by failing the levy.”

“We know we can’t do a recount, but we know that we can spread awareness,” Swearengin said. “Currently, there’s like 200 teachers leaving our school, and it’s a really sad time. These students are so upset about the levy failure because they’re not going to have great high school years. It’s just to raise awareness so hopefully we can pass it the next time we do it.”

Swearengin and classmate Brian Donahue were both thrilled with the turnout of the student walkout event. They viewed the protest as an opportunity for YCS students to voice their concerns and opinions of the levy failure.

“It means a lot to see the turnout. I’m honestly so impressed that all of these people came together to show their support and were so for it,” Swearengin said. “It means so much to everyone out here so that all of their voices are heard. That’s the biggest thing today — making sure everyone’s voice is heard.”

Donahue added that it is important to support YCS programs that are facing potential cuts.

“We’re having a lot of programs getting shut down, a lot of classes that are getting shut down, too. Art programs are really important to students in general. Without them, there’s less creativity. It gives people an outlet, and without it, students wouldn’t be as expressive,” Donahue said. “I’m not originally from Yelm, but being with a group of people who are that supportive and that willing to show support for their teachers and different people helping to make our days better in the district has meant a lot. It’s heartwarming to have so many people here today. We really appreciate it a lot.”

Yelm High freshman Evelynn Courneya said that many of the teachers who received reduction-in-force notices are outlets to her and other students.

“It’s really hard to get through high school because it’s already stressful and there’s a lot of drama,” Courneya said. “A lot of student’s support systems are being cut, and it’s really stressful, frustrating and devastating because, not only are we losing our outlets, our support systems, but we’re losing our programs.”