by Katie Kresly.
Director Melissa Petrini announced her immediate resignation from the Highline School Board during the January 22, 2025 board meeting. Director Azeb Hagos’s resignation was also announced at the start of the meeting by President Joe Van. Hagos was not present.
Burien.News attended the Highline Board session in person. Below you can read the UNEDITED TRANSCRIPT and see VIDEO.
Forty-seven minutes into the meeting, during the Directors Reports, Petrini began by acknowledging Director Azeb Hagos’ absence and abrupt resignation. She expressed her admiration for Hagos’ contributions to the board through her “tremendous work, ethics, dignity, and tenacity… She truly put her heart, strength, courage, and vivacious mindset into everything she did to better the educational system for our students.”
Melissa Petrini represented District 4 (Normandy Park, and parts of Des Moines and SeaTac.) Azeb Hagos represented District 5 (most of Des Moines.)
Both Petrini and Hagos were elected as Highline Directors in November 2023, with terms ending in December 2027.
In 2023, Petrini campaigned and won her election based on her promises to foster foundational literacy skills, robust academic goals, transparency, and parent involvement in Highline Schools. She previously told Burien.News that she had hoped to engage with her fellow directors and the administration in a collaborative effort, but as stated last night, she found “lack of communication, stifling of open and honest discussions,” and “hostility from leadership.”
Said Petrini, “I have raised concerns about the way our community and parents have been treated while creating a wedge of distrust between parents, children, and teachers pushing identity over integrity, orientation over honesty, diversity over dignity, equity over equality, and political activism over academics.”
She added, “Despite my efforts to advocate for balance and dialogue, I have been met with disdain, distrust, and disinterest.”
Petrini took over six minutes to describe what she had experienced and why she was stepping down.
The room, including the remaining three directors, superintendent and many administrators, was silent. Onlookers were stunned as Petrini delivered her speech; everyone paid close attention.
Many attendees left frustrated, some in tears, over the loss of their “academics and literacy champion.”
Here is the uncut video from the Highline School District livestream:
Petrini handed President Joe Van a letter of resignation and left. The remainder of the board took a five minute recess, then returned to finish their meeting.
The district will determine how to fill the two vacant seats, based on district policies.
We reached out to the Highline District, Joe Van, Azeb Hagos, and Melissa Petrini for comment. Petrini declined at this time; Hagos has not responded.
President Joe Van issued a statement this morning, which we have included after Melissa Petrini’s statement.
We will report further, as we receive additional information.
UNEDITED Transcript of Director Petrini’s Statement at the meeting:
“Thank you. I first want to acknowledge the absence of Director Hagos. I want to acknowledge the tremendous work, ethics, dignity, and tenacity I witnessed in Director Azeb Hagos. She truly was a woman who put her heart, strength, courage, and vivacious mindset into everything she did to better the educational system for our students.
“She did that through her input, her advocacy, well-thought-out policies, sound practices and governance, academic experiences, and was mental health and wellness focused. Championing and lifting up others wherever possible, and sharing and celebrating with others in all capacities.
“I have deep admiration and respect for Director Hagos, and our district, I believe, is better off because of her hard work and soft heart. I am saddened to see her resign.
“In that vein, it makes me reflect on the reasons I decided to run for the school board and the meaningful experiences I’ve been able to engage in this year. I continue to encourage and fight for more intense focus on foundational literacy skills, demanding more robust academic goals towards grade-level proficiency, demanding more transparency around our actions and policies, advocating for parents to be involved and aware.
“Advocating for students and equal academic opportunities and promoting our community programs and partners, and supporting our teachers who have strived and sacrificed so much for our kids, to have competitive compensation, and to have positive working environments that allow them to do the things they are there to do… and that is to teach.
“However, my experience has also been discouraging and frustrating. There are many things that frustrate me. When it comes to academics, I worry about how much we are so hyper-focused and double down on things that have not produced the promised outcomes of increased academic performance for all our students.
“I hear from teachers, again and again, that they are not able to teach to the levels that they should be, as we have 50% of our kids three grades below.
“I’m sad that as we claim to close opportunity gaps at times it comes by way of eliminating opportunities altogether that has the greatest impact or like watering things down like High Cap [Highly Capable] or pushing away a 20-year-plus relationship with our robotics clubs and programs, not investing in [reading] programs and supports that have proven efficacy and several years worth of positive growth that would lead to all areas of academics being lifted and behavioral issues would be diminished.
“I know, Highline prides itself on being a place where we strive to ensure a place where everyone feels like they belong. However, I have not felt that myself, along with many others who have shared their stories and experiences and when relayed they are turned away and disregarded.
“I struggle with a constant stifling of open and honest board discussions, or from leadership the avoidance and lack of communication from leadership, undermining efforts, and actions, mistrust, and independent decision-making or the hostile and toxic and undignified attacks both over the dais and behind the scenes.
“I feel my words have often been twisted and have had bad and nefarious intentions attached to them, or implied.
“I’ve also heard of defamatory reports of those in leadership and on this board, calling me names, spreading rumors and lies, while telling others not to work with me. Such examples: white supremacist, Moms for Liberty, Christianized fascist, racist, xenophobe – pretty much all the ‘phobes’ at this point – at places of their work or community, because I ask questions.
“There are also reports from teachers telling me that they were told by their union teamsters, via the district, that I was dangerous and would hurt children, a narrative that has been corroborated by several teachers at this point. They have been told not to work with me, not to answer my questions, and one of the many other ridiculous things I have heard was someone recording myself and another board member at an airport after a conference.
“I know I signed up for this scrutiny and I accept it, but a culture of belonging doesn’t quite fit the experience I’ve had – of pure contempt.
“I have raised concerns about the way our community and parents have been treated while creating a wedge of distrust between parents, children, and teachers pushing identity over integrity, orientation over honesty, diversity over dignity, equity over equality, and political activism over academics. I have seen it all.
“And I have complained, and I have cautioned, and I have strived to encourage dialogue, and discussion and understanding, but I have been met with disdain, distrust and distance.
“Most concerning though is the lack of accountability for actions and inactions when clear violations have been brought to the [board’s] attention. I have complained of several state and, now proven, federal violations regarding student and parent information and communication not handled appropriately, among other things.
“As I have strived to come to the table and advocate for ALL sides, bringing balance, and perspectives that should help shape that families hope to see their school district reflect, I feel that independent voices like mine are not valued. They are minimized and discriminated against, and because I see no friendly path forward, I am also officially resigning as of this moment, which brings me much sadness.
“But I have appreciated the few souls who have given me their time, reflecting and engaging in meaningful conversations and treated me with dignity. I hope you know who you are and how much I appreciate you.
“Thank you, to my constituents and to the community and to the board and the superintendent, and to our parents and teachers who are still in the fight for balance and common sense. Please accept my apologies as I continue to work hard in other capacities and efforts to bring people back to the table.
“I will excuse myself now.”
Highline Schools President Joe Van’s statement:
“Directors Hagos and Petrini have resigned from the Highline School Board. I want to thank them both for their service to our students, staff, and community. We are grateful for their time and commitment.
“At Highline, we remain steadfast in our commitment to creating a culture of belonging for all students, families, and staff members. Our policies and practices reflect our dedication to equity and excellence, guided by Our Promise to know every student by name, strength, and need, so that they are prepared for the future they choose.
“Our priority has always been—and will continue to be—academic success for our students. Our data shows we are making progress, even if it’s slower than we’d like. The road to success is complex, with many factors to consider in making sure our students are ready to learn.
“We are listening to all voices. We do this work because we care deeply about our community, our children, and the future we are shaping together. The work must continue, and I’m committed to doing so with all voices at the table. Together, we will continue pushing forward to create the best environment for our students to thrive.”
4 Responses
I’m sad to see reasonable voices resigning from the board but it doesn’t surprise me. Ineffective and out of touch governance is what I have come to expect. I hope we have more quality candidates running to fill these vacancies and turn around the district.
Directors Hagos and Petrini, if you are reading this……THANK-YOU for your service to the Highline School District and to your community! It was with great sadness that I read the above story. I, like many others, had hoped that your shared vision and goals would usher in an era of change to a district (and school board) that is not meeting the standards or expectations of the communities in which it serves. Our district has fallen so far below the standard, due to politics and agendas, that we may never fully recover! Sadly, the remaining board members (and Superintendent) want us to believe that everything is “fine,” while our students continue to struggle with the basics of literacy and math. It would appear that school bonds, construction projects and teacher’s union concerns are more important to this board than the education and well-being of our students. Despite having clear district policies against bullying, which is occurring with greater frequency throughout many schools in the district, we have read about and witnessed bullying at the school board meetings. How can the students be expected to follow these policies when the members of the board don’t set the example? I have personally observed this behavior while attending a recent school board meeting. I came away with the following observations. This school board is dysfunctional and does not understand it’s role or responsibilities. Yes, budgets need to be reviewed and approved, but that is not the only purpose of your oversight. Agendas are drawn up and distributed so that line items can be discussed in detail and a consensus reached. It is perfectly okay if there are different opinions being expressed either by directors or members of the public. That is why these meetings are public! Differing viewpoints need to be heard, so that we can collectively find the best path forward. The Superintendent is disengaged and shows no interest or empathy about the concerns being expressed by speakers from the community. The lack of professionalism and respect on display at the meeting that I attended was noteworthy. If Highline School District wants to have an atmosphere of Respect and Inclusion, it has to start with and be modeled by all members of the Board and District Administrators.
If we don’t educate kids to be literate in math, finance, science, technology; to learn how to express themselves in oral and written communications; to understand history and civics, to be able to think critically and systematically; to learn requisite social skills; to understand that education is a life-long process, then we may as well accept that few will be in a position to compete for a future worth having. I say this as an educator and scientist who has taught students throughout the world and a couple of things stand out. They are learning these skills, they learn English, they are hungry, and they want the future that many of our parents and kids seem willing to give up.
The sentiments expressed by both Hagos and Patrini are valid. As a Highline parent for the past 17 years, I have experienced the lack of communication and hostility from Highline administrators more frequently these past 10 years. Most recently in regards to establishing a 504 for my daughter, who has a life threatening condition. Highline’s 504 coordinator tried multiple times to dissuade me from establishing a 504 for her because, to paraphrase the director’s reasoning, it (her disability) wasn’t that bad. No, Highline just doesn’t want to be on the hook if they can’t fulfill the 504. And they know they will likely fail at fulfilling the 504 because Highline often drops the ball when it comes to following safety procedures. I was allowed to work as a paid employee in a Kindergarten class without required CPR training. I had to be the one to bring it up to my supervisor.