Kennewick Schools Oppose Sex Offender Home Near Schools

Five public schools within 2-mile radius of proposed 'less restrictive alternative' housing project

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Kennewick School Board has formally signed off on a joint resolution with the city opposing the placement of a sex offender house at the corner of 8th Avenue and Edison Street. The resolution calls on state officials to reconsider the policies allowing the housing placement, citing major safety concerns with the number of students and families in the neighborhood who commute to and from the nearby schools.

Why it matters

The proposed sex offender housing project is seen as a major threat to public safety, especially for the students and families in the surrounding neighborhood. Local leaders argue the state's policies on these 'less restrictive alternative' housing placements need to be reformed to give more control and input to affected school districts and local governments.

The details

The joint resolution demands that future placement decisions be governed by a process 'grounded in local control, full transparency, early notification, shared accountability, and mandatory consultation with, and consent from, affected school districts and local governments.' The school board voted unanimously, 5-0, to sign on to the resolution, with some discussion about possibly making it stronger.

  • The Kennewick City Council first adopted the resolution at its meeting last week.
  • The Kennewick School Board voted on the resolution at its meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.

The players

Kennewick School Board

The local school board that formally signed off on the joint resolution opposing the sex offender housing project.

Kennewick City Council

The local city council that first adopted the resolution opposing the sex offender housing project.

Gov. Bob Ferguson

The governor of Washington state, who the resolution calls on to reconsider the policies allowing the housing placement.

Washington Legislature

The state legislature, who the resolution calls on to reconsider the policies allowing the housing placement.

Washington Department of Social and Health Services

The state agency that the resolution calls on to reconsider the policies allowing the housing placement.

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What they’re saying

“I think I've said plenty on this LRA home. I think it's disgusting, and it needs to go away.”

— Gabe Galbraith, Board President, Kennewick School Board (tri-cityherald.com)

“This is a dangerous state practice that has the potential to harm not only survivors of sexual assault and violence, but their families as well.”

— Jason McShane, Mayor, City of Kennewick (tri-cityherald.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide in the coming weeks whether to allow the sex offender housing project to move forward despite the opposition from the city and school district.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between state policies on sex offender housing and the concerns of local communities, especially when it comes to protecting children and families. It underscores the need for reforms that give more control and input to affected school districts and local governments on these sensitive placement decisions.