Attendance dips slightly during Chimacum parents protest

CHIMACUM — Schools in the Chimacum School District saw a slight decrease in attendance Wednesday as some families protested the resignation of a popular principal.

A post circulating on Facebook urged parents to keep their kids home from school “to show the school board and administration how low enrollment can get if they continue to ignore parents.”

Parents were asked to “stand up” for Chimacum Creek Primary Principal Kalie Enlow, who sent a letter of resignation to the district Dec. 21.

The Chimacum School District recently has announced changes and consolidation plans because of declining enrollment.

Chimacum School District Superintendent Rick Thompson said attendance at Chimacum Creek Primary School dropped to 86 percent from the low 90s after four families participated in the protest.

Chimacum Elementary School and Chimacum Middle School each saw a handful of students miss school.

At Chimacum High School there were 30 students absent, 15 more than the day before.

Parents packed into the School Board meeting last week to protest Enlow’s resignation, claiming she was “forced” to leave.

School officials have not said that Enlow was asked to resign and have said they cannot discuss personnel matters.

During that meeting School Board President Mike Gould said that “so many times in the absence of information, rumors become the currency.”

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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsula dailynews.com.

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