Thursday, October 1, 2026
Sensitive text messages about "biological boys" in girls high school sports sparked a rebuke from Olympia School District and Tumwater School District officials.
The messages, which were dated Saturday, July 26, were sent using a number from a local area code and appeared to urge the recipients to reply by addressing them by name.
Mary Weber, a Lacey resident, sent an email to The JOLT News about the messages, which were labeled as “Tumwater School Poll” and “Olympia School Poll.” The labeling suggested the messages were connected to the two school districts, which was not the case.
The message individuals like Weber received read:
“Tumwater School Poll:
Should biological boys play in girl's high school sports?
YES or NO
Please Respond [redacted name]
Thank you
Pd by TCRP
STOP to END”
The other version of the message replaced the word "Tumwater" with "Olympia."
Weber sent a complaint email to officials in the two school districts, the county and other members of the community.
“I understand this issue is not within the scope of duties for many to solve, But I welcome you in this email to see that this issue exist, and I also welcome any answers, direction, or solutions you may have to this to ensure our community is not subjected to any further messages seeking to target or exclude our Trans Community Members, or any other marginalized Community Members,” states Weber in her email.
Olympia School District Director of Communications & Community Relations Conor Schober responded to an email from The JOLT News, stating the message was not from the school district.
“The Olympia School District had no role in the creation or distribution of the recent text message labeled 'Olympia School Poll.' We do not endorse its content, and it did not originate from the district,” Schober wrote.
Tumwater School District Superintendent Kevin Bogatin also replied to an email from The JOLT News, stating the district is aware of the messages, but the “Tumwater School Poll” did not come from the district.
“We want to make clear that this message did not originate from Tumwater School District, and we are not affiliated in any way with this text communication," Bogatin wrote in the email.
"It is not part of any district-sanctioned outreach, survey, or policy discussion. We do not currently conduct polls via text, and we were not made aware of this message prior to its distribution."
Bogatin added the district understands the confusion and concern, and appreciates the community's vigilance in bringing it to its attention.
4 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
ConservativeHippie
Is JOLT turning into a woke click bait rag?
This headline is misleading and the story provides no additive information besides residents were mistaken about source of text message ... yet that was never stated in the article.
There is no secret and no conspiracy: https://thurstoncountyrepublicans.com/tumwater-olympia-school-districts-poll-results/
FYI to Reader - This link was sent to JOLT on the 30th. This article with no information was posted on the 31st. Our beloved not for profit news source JOLT has a new editor. Are they steering narrative bias over objective journalism?
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
bobkat
"Our beloved not for profit news source JOLT has a new editor. " Thank you! Was totally unaware that a new editor is in charge of this "news" site. From now on, will be on the lookout for the possibility of slanted - biased news articles.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
LindaD
It's a legitimate question. Granted, it's also quite likely Thurston County Republicans trying to divert attention from their ongoing disaster of a President and Epstein, but it's still a legitimate question and should be addressed as such. without bias.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Callie
As the parent of a disabled kid with poor coordination, but plenty of heart, I have been happy to hear that Olympia School District now has Universal Sports, so that less-than-athletes kids can still particpate in the wholesome benefits of being on a team and being active. My kid didn't get that chance.
If you think that the goal of high school sports is to see your kid excell and win a sports scholarship - great for the excellent athlete!
I suspect there are plenty of kids - boys, girls, trans-kids, whatever - for whom it is best to just be active with peers, not all about being better-than-others.
I hear the fear that a trans boy might do better than a girl and win, for example, a track race. I trust the PE teachers to make things work for all kids - including those with talent, including kids without.
Friday, August 1, 2025 Report this