Seattle-area students were left fuming when their school board voted to do away with their beloved school resource officer in a bid to boost 'equity.'

Students at Bothell High School even walked out of class on Monday to protest the Northshore School board's vote on May 11 to end Officer Garrett Ware's contract after nine years and replace him with campus supervisors, KOMO reports.

Board members indicated at the meeting they had nothing personal against Ware, as they defended their decision using words like 'racial,' 'equity' and 'educational justice,' according to Fox 13.  

'You are correct in saying you have elected all of us to represent you, but you also elect us to vote our conscience,' board member Carson Sanderson told one of the many students and family members who spoke out against the move at the May 11 meeting.

'It concerns me that we are placing a police officer in a position as a confidant for students, encouraging them to tell him everything that concerns them or worries them when those things can be used against them legally.'

Fellow board member Han Tran also told KIRO she was 'not able to support renewal of this contract because this district owes our community something more comprehensive and equitable, and more empowering to community members.'

But the district's own 2025- 26 SRO program evaluation found that most Bothell students feel safe 'frequently' or 'almost always' at the school because of Ware's presence.

Now, the students say they feel like their voices were misrepresented by the school board, which voted four to one to end Ware's contract.

'We have had conversations during our club times about the SRO program,' said Malik Lopez-Terron, president of the school's Black Student Union. 'And I can say only one student has ever expressed discomfort with our program. 

'But we don't just remove a teacher whenever one student feels uncomfortable - and that student doesn't represent our values as a whole.'

He added that he believes his fellow club members would 'agree with me when I say the school feels safer with Officer Ware.'

Student Body President Avery Jansen also told KOMO that Ware demonstrated his value to the school just last Thursday during a 'student-related incident' involving a kitchen knife, when Ware temporarily evacuated one building on campus.

'We were in lockdown in our classrooms for around an hour, and he was there to respond right away,' Jansen said, adding that the officer provides 'such a sense of security at our school.'

Prior to the board's vote, senior Julian Mercado also challenged the members to find anybody at the school who had an issue with Ware's presence.

'You can go around and ask every single person here, and no one will say they feel unsafe. It's just a myth,' he said. 'Everyone feels safer with him.' 

Even the high school principal and school superintendent recommended that the board renew Ware's contract.

Following the vote, Erin Peistrup, a mother of students at Bothell High School, argued that board members 'voted without educating themselves on what he does at this school on a day-to-day basis.

'It's not just about safety, he engages with everyone on the campus; they adore him, they love him,' she said.

One such student has even created an online petition seeking to get the school board to change its mind and reinstate Ware, which would require one of the four directors who voted down his contract to bring it back up for a vote.

'Officer Ware's rapport with students breaks down barriers, encourages open communication and often prevents incidents before they escalate,' it says.

But it argues Ware 'does more than protect us physically.'

'His involvement in student life boosts morale, promotes positive behavior and cultivates a community spirit like no other.

'It is essential to recognize the specific contributions Officer Ware makes - his activities with school clubs, participation in community outreach,' the petition continues.

'This holistic approach to school safety has been effective in Bothell and has been key to our students' success.'

As of Wednesday, the petition received more than 4,200 signatures.

Yet School Board President Sandy Hayes has thus far defended the board's vote.

'The Board recognizes that this has been a very emotional issue for many in our community. We deeply appreciate the Bothell students, staff, families and community members who took the time to share their perspectives throughout the evaluation process and our deliberations,' she said in a statement to KOMO.

'Our final decision was not made lightly,' she continued.

'The Board reviewed the SRO contract from a variety of perspectives including public testimony, individual meetings, emails, SRO monthly reports, survey feedback and broader conversations about school safety and security. The Board also considered the importance of creating a consistent safety and security model across all of our comprehensive high schools.

'With this information, the Board determined to discontinue the Bothell SRO contract for the 2026 - 27 school year.

'We remain committed to supporting the Bothell High School community through this transition and will continue our strong partnership with the Bothell Police Department moving forward.'

Following the walk-out, Hayes also told Fox 13: 'The Northshore School Board is supportive of our students exercising their First Amendment rights and sharing their perspectives through peaceful protest.

'We recognize that our students and community members may hold differing perspectives regarding Board decisions and district issues,' she said.

'The ability to express disagreement respectfully and engage in civic dialogue is an important part of a healthy democratic society, and an important aspect of our students' education.'