Northshore School District: Alleged violation of RCW 42.17A.555 by using public facilities to promote a ballot proposition. (EY '22; Jan '22)

Case

#102734

Respondent

Northshore School District

Complainant

Dmitry Grigorenko

Description

The Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) has completed its review of the complaint filed on January 8, 2022. The complaint alleged that Northshore School District (the District), a public school district serving King and Snohomish Counties, may have violated RCW 42.17A.555 for using of public facilities to promote a ballot proposition in the February 8, 2022 special election.

PDC staff reviewed the allegations; the applicable statutes, rules; PDC Interpretation No. 01-03; and the response provided by Attorney Duncan Fobes with Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch Inc. P.S. on behalf of the Respondent, to determine whether the record supports a finding of one or more violations.

It appears that the District uses paid advertisement, including Twitter and other social media platforms, for levies, bonds, and other communication with the community and has done so with regularity for the last five years.

Based on our findings staff has determined that, in this instance regarding the use of paid advertisement and social media posts to communicate information about the February bond and levies, no evidence supports a finding of a violation that warrants further investigation.

However, although not part of the complaint, staff’s review of the content of the levy and bond materials found them to be potentially problematic. PDC staff is reminding Northshore School District about the importance of limiting the content of information produced by the District regarding ballot propositions to factual information only in accordance with the statutes, rules and PDC Interpretation No. 01-03.

Based on this information, the PDC finds that no further action is warranted and has dismissed this matter in accordance with RCW 42.17A.755(1).

Disposition

Case Closed with Reminder

Date Opened

January 18, 2022

Areas of Law

RCW 42.17A.555

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