Growing calls among teachers, students for Monroe school superintendent to resign

MONROE, Wash. — There are growing calls for the superintendent of the Monroe School District to resign.

Teachers and staff say they have lost cost confidence in Dr. Justin Blasko and he must go.

They plan to formally tell the school board all of this at its meeting Monday tonight.

They say their loss of confidence was sparked by his handling of a racial incident outside the high school a month ago.

It is an unusual sight in this city located in the Cascade foothills: Monroe’s education community holding a protest against Superintendent Justin Blasko, saying he has failed to protect students here from racism and discrimination.

“I am a parent of two boys in the district,” said Heather Young, leaving her post in the rally.

Both her sons have disabilities.

“I also started the petition that is asking the board to consider removing the superintendent that has more than 1,000 signatures tonight,” said Young.

That petition came after this, a loud dispute in the parking lot last month in which a white student repeatedly yelled the N-word to a black student.

The school held an assembly two days later to address issues of race and equity. But many here say more needed to be done.

On Monday, Monroe high school students walked out in protest because they are upset, too.

But Young says the issues for her sons don’t involve race.

“They are targets for harassment and intimidation and bullying,” said Young. “They also have been left out of any emergency evacuation drills.”

Now the teachers and staff have voted no confidence in Dr. Blasko. 

“This is something that is systemic,” said Young. “This is a cultural thing. And that starts with him.”

The superintendent issued a statement saying he, too, cares about equity and inclusion but did not mention the calls for him to go.

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