WA Supreme Court justices meet Thursday on Richland recall. When could they decide?
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Richland School Board Recall Effort
A high-profile group of voters filed to recall board members Semi Bird, Audra Byrd and Kari Williams after their controversial vote to make face masks optional.
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The Washington Supreme Court are meeting behind closed doors Thursday to decide the future of the Richland School Board recall effort.
The court’s nine justices will not hear oral arguments but will review the briefs written by attorneys from both sides, as well as look at a Tri-Cities judge’s decision to allow the recall to move ahead.
The high court’s decision could be released quickly, either on Thursday, Feb. 9, or in the coming days.
If an order is handed down upholding the recall charges, organizers with the Richland School Board Recall campaign can begin collecting signatures the next day in order to put the decision to voters later this year.
If the justices side with the three school board members, it could spell an end to the effort to remove the trio.
The three voted nearly a year ago to defy Washington state’s indoor mask mandate and allow students and employees to go “mask optional” in Richland schools.
Four identical charges are being levied against board members Kari Williams, Semi Bird and Audra Byrd. They claim each:
- Violated the Open Public Meetings Act by voting at a special meeting taking final action on a matter, to wit: masking optional, that had not been included in the published public meeting agenda.
- Voted to make masks at school optional, in knowing violation of the law and in excess of the powers of a school board, even after warnings from the state and from legal counsel.
- Violated the district code of ethics by failing to: (1) uphold all laws, rules and regulations, and/or (2) use legal and ethical procedures; and/or (3) ensure schools are well run; and/or (4) consult those affected by changes in policy.
- Violated district policies and procedures by failing to assure compliance with law and policy.
The state’s highest court will determine only if the charges meet the state’s standard for recall. They will not weigh in on if the school board members are guilty of such charges. That’s for the voters to decide.
The Tri-City Herald will have breaking coverage online of the court’s ruling when the decision is announced.
This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 12:18 PM.
