Board to Vote on Censuring Hamilton Over Oversight Push
The Port Angeles School District Board of Directors is scheduled to cast a formal vote tonight on a resolution that would censure Director Nancy Hamilton. The move follows a sustained period of disagreement over the board member’s proactive approach to oversight since her election last November.
Hamilton, who unseated a sitting director by a margin of nearly 13 points, has made repeated requests for detailed records on financial matters, infrastructure projects, and transportation logistics. While she frames these inquiries as essential to informed governance, district leadership and the board’s majority contend the volume and specificity of her demands have strained administrative capacity.
Resolution 2526, an eight-page document, outlines how Hamilton’s requests—described as “voluminous, complex, and/or repetitive”—have contributed to operational delays and added staff workload. As an example, the resolution points to a December 2025 email in which Hamilton posed 56 distinct questions about district operations. These included specifics on fleet age and maintenance history of district buses, as well as procedural clarifications on contract modifications for a $23,700 agreement.
Over five months, from December through May, Hamilton submitted 17 separate emails seeking operational details. According to the resolution, responding to these communications consumed “hours” of staff time each month. The board further argues her questions—while well-intentioned—have shifted into territory more typically managed by administration, blurring lines of responsibility.
A key point of contention involves Hamilton’s conduct following a May 26 executive session held in closed session. The district alleges she disclosed elements of that meeting in a June 11 letter addressed to the board and district counsel. Officials say this disclosure risked waiving attorney-client privilege and created a new public record, exposing the district to potential legal exposure.
In her letter, Hamilton contested the rationale for the closed session, suggesting it was framed around possible litigation but ultimately served to challenge her performance and influence. She specifically noted her identity as the sole Native American board member, writing that the response from leadership “appears designed to silence minority voices on the Board.”
The resolution pushes back against those assertions, calling her claims of bias “false and offensive.” It emphasizes that the closed meeting adhered to the Open Public Meetings Act and underscores the district’s existing collaboration with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe as evidence of inclusive decision-making.
Another flashpoint involves how community feedback is processed. Hamilton has forwarded parent and stakeholder concerns directly to the superintendent, often omitting identifiers of the original complainants. District officials maintain this approach deviates from established protocol, which encourages transparency to facilitate meaningful follow-up and resolution.
A final vote on the censure resolution is expected later tonight, with outcomes potentially shaping Hamilton’s role moving forward.
The resolution does acknowledge the director's stated justification for her actions. She told the board she was responding to community concerns regarding the superintendent, claiming a history of retaliating against critics. The board maintains these allegations are unfounded and damage the reputation of the administration.
Should the board approve the measure during its meeting on Thursday night, it will not result in the director losing her elected position or her right to vote on matters before the panel.
Despite this, the document contains significant warnings and establishes new obstacles for obtaining information.
The board cautions that it will pursue a court injunction to physically prevent the director from attending future closed-door executive sessions if her behavior persists.
The proposal also details a strict protocol for handling requests for documents.
In future interactions, should the superintendent determine that a specific board member's request for information is too voluminous, complex, or repetitive, that request must be forwarded to the Board President.
Unless a majority of the full board votes to approve the inquiry, staff will disregard the questions posed by the elected member.
The board is scheduled to review and vote on the censure at its meeting tomorrow, June 18.