Strengthening Washington's Public Schools

Welcome to WEA Ed Wire, a compilation of public education stories from around the state, found in countless media sources. The WEA does not endorse all opinions expressed. Clips below cover some of the coverage Jan. 7-27, 2012.

WEA news 

SB 6442: Costs more, increases bureaucracy, reduces your health benefits
Senate Bill 6442 takes away your current health benefits and forces all K-12 employees into a new state bureaucracy that costs more, provides fewer benefits and limits our health care choices. This legislation is costly, complicated and confusing all at the same time. Dozens of WEA members attended a recent legislative hearing to oppose the bill. But you can help defeat this bill without going to Olympia -- email your legislators and tell them not to take over our health care.

WEA statement on proposed charter school legislation
"Sen. Tom and Rep. Pettigrew should be working on the full funding challenge presented to them last week by the state Supreme Court. The people of Washington are demanding full public education funding for their children and neighborhood schools. Charter schools are a distraction from the real debate and not a full funding solution." -- WEA President, Mary Lindquist. Read more on the WEA website ... 

Charter schools

Charter schools measure revived and debated in state Senate
Those wanting to lift the state's ban on charter schools ran smack into opposition from teachers, principals and school board members.The two sides collided at a Senate education committee hearing on a bill to create the schools, which are controversial because they are publicly funded yet privately run under terms of contract like charters.Opponents argue there's no evidence students in charter schools perform better than those in traditional public schools. Also, they said, enabling charter schools ignores the message sent by the state Supreme Court that the state is failing to adequately fund basic education."The siphoning of dollars for charter schools solves no problem," said Wendy Radar-Konofalski of the Washington Education Association, which is the statewide teachers union. Read more on The Herald ...

Charter schools on legislative agenda
Declaring that traditional methods have failed, a bipartisan group of lawmakers formally introduced a pair of bills that could shake up education policy in the state -- if they survive what is sure to be a contentious debate. Read more on The Olympian ... 

School funding & compensation

Lawmakers focused on education want to talk about money -- and policy
With nearly a billion-dollar shortfall and a state Supreme Court ruling on inadequate education spending hanging over their heads, one might expect lawmakers preparing for the 2012 Legislative session to be focused exclusively on money. Read more on The Seattle Times ...

Race to the Top competition revamped
Education Secretary Arne Duncan says school districts across the country, in addition to state governments, will be able to seek federal dollars as part of the competition. Read more on Tri-City Herald ...

Snow days, furlough days ... what's in store for Snohomish's students 
As the students head home early, it is a reminder that this week is a Furlough Week in the Snohomish School District. That means all schools will be on half-day schedules to make up for some of the money lost by state cuts to education funding. It also keeps the district on its state-mandated 180-day schedule. Read more on KOMO ... 

Ballard teachers take to streets to demand education funding
"I should be in my classroom getting ready for finals tomorrow," Ballard High School science teacher India Carlson (Seattle EA) said. "Instead, I'm standing out here freezing, protesting because the state won't do its paramount duty." Read more on KOMO ...

Thorp Schools to seek maximum school levy funds 
The Thorp School District will ask voters to approve a maintenance and operations levy extension that will raise $718,000 to maintain educational programs, administrators said. Read more on Daily Record ...

By the numbers: Levy will help rebuild Federal Way High School
The vote for Federal Way Public Schools' two levy proposals is fast approaching. Read more on Federal Way Mirror ...

Education funding reform: Federal Way schools watch state 
Federal Way Public Schools will continue to keep an eye on education funding issues throughout 2012, said school board member and legislative liaison Ed Barney."The Washington State Supreme Court ruled that the state had not complied with its obligation for public school education, and the court has deferred it to the Legislature to fix the problem. The state has been given until 2018 to make those reforms," Barney said. "The 85-page opinion said, however, that the judiciary would keep an eye on the lawmakers to make sure they fully implement education reforms by 2018. I think they're stuck with that date, which is good, because now they'll have to move forward." Read more on Federal Way Mirror ... 

Regents urge lawmakers not to cut higher education
Regents and trustees from Washington's universities and community colleges are in Olympia, telling state lawmakers to not make further cuts to higher education. Read more on Seattle P.I. ...

Central Kitsap schools get help from parents, taxpayers in prioritizing budget
Whole programs may fall into Central Kitsap School District's budget gap next year, and the district is asking parents to help figure out which ones. Read more on Kitsap Sun ... 

CK, NM school districts hope voters will back funding requests
Local levy campaigns are optimistic that recent talk of education funding woes will bolster their cases. Read more on Kitsap Sun ... 

Public discusses pros and cons
With the Feb. 14 special election fast approaching, the conversation continues over the pros and cons of the two levy measures for Federal Way Public Schools. Read more on Federal Way Mirror ...

State higher education spending sees big decline
State funding for higher education has declined because of a slow recovery from the recession and the end of federal stimulus money, according to a study. Read more on The Bellingham Herald ...

Small school districts seek levy renewals 
Three small school districts are asking voters to support levy-renewal proposals that would help pay for day-to-day operations for between three to four years. Read more on The Columbian ...

Obama decries rising cost of college education 
President Barack Obama called for an overhaul of the higher education financial aid system, warning that colleges and universities that fail to control spiraling tuition costs could lose federal funds. Read more on The Seattle Times ...

Growth in prekindergarten slowed in recession
The expansion in public prekindergarten programs has slowed and even been reversed in some states as school districts cope with shrinking budgets. As a result, many 3- and 4-year-olds aren't going to preschool. Read more on Tri-City Herald ... 

Naches School District builds strong case for improvements
Few people know Naches Valley Primary School as well as Mitch Young, one of the school's custodians for 33 years. At one time or another, Young has covered almost every inch of the nearly 60-year-old building. Read more on Yakima Herald-Republic ... 

Evaluations, school improvement and testing

Council finds states weakening teacher tenure
America's public school teachers are seeing their generations-old tenure protections weakened as states seek flexibility to fire teachers who aren't performing. A few states have essentially nullified tenure protections altogether, according to an analysis being released by the National Council on Teacher Quality. Read more on The Bellingham Herald ...

Education law's promise falls short after 10 years
The No Child Left Behind education law was cast as a symbol of possibility, offering the promise of improved schools for the nation's poor and minority children and better prepared students in a competitive world. Read more on The Seattle Times ...

Ed Dept. seeks public input on cheating
The Education Department wants the public's input to develop guidelines to prevent and detect cheating. The effort comes after several cheating scandals involving teachers. Read more on Tri-City Herald ...  

Member spotlightJean Licari will be missed not only in the halls, but also on the field
She was a teacher who had a calling into the sometimes unrewarding profession. Licari spent her entire 21-year teaching career as a math teacher. Read more on Federal Way Mirror ...

Miscellaneous

Report says state failing on higher education
Education researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have a message for the citizens of Washington: state government is failing to meet its responsibility to provide enough opportunities for a college education in Washington."Washington really doesn't have a plan for the future of higher education -- even though they have one in writing and it's very nice," said researcher Joni Finney. "Unless the Legislature moves forward, the plan is meaningless." Read more on The Columbian ...

In response to school board dispute, a lesson on open meetings
What can and can't be discussed by elected officials in meetings closed to the public fueled much of the controversy on the Everett School Board last year.  Read more on The Herald ...

New superintendent seeks ideas to improve Kelso schools
Kelso School District is strong in many areas but needs improvement in others, Superintendent Rob MacGregor told school board members Monday night. The best way to start fixing problems, he said, is to hire a consultant to update the 2004 strategic plan. Read more on The Daily News ...

Proposal spurs emotional debate over Seattle School Board power
Amid speculation about why Interim Superintendent Susan Enfield decided to leave the district, some members are trying to clarify the board's role. But others worry the proposal goes too far. Read more on The Seattle Times ... 

Hazelwood Elementary marched for civil rights
Learning about our history is important not just in Edmonds but everywhere and keeping our kids educated on our history is a great way for us all to continue to remember. Read more on KOMO ...

Despite power outage, Lacey students head back to class 
Despite still being in the dark on Wednesday, the North Thurston School District decided to hold classes at Olympic View Elementary School. Adapting to the situation, teacher Sara Boedigheimer (North Thurston EA) changed her lesson plan to have her second graders write about the power outage at their school. Read more on KOMO ...

Aberdeen paying $100,000 to bullied student
Lawsuit by a former student. Read more on The Columbian ...

Mother of boy hit, dragged by Eatonville school bus sues driver and district
Autumn Landen does not state a damage amount in her lawsuit, which was filed earlier this month in Pierce County Superior Court. She sought $1.1 million in a claim she filed with the district in September. Read more on The Olympian ...

Coach Jon Kitna's goal: Creating family atmosphere through successful football
If Jon Kitna's vision is fulfilled, Lincoln High School -- and Tacoma, too -- will experience success that goes far beyond the football field. Read more on The News Tribune ...

Letters, commentary, opinion etc. 

Blog
Charter school feud to raise its head again in state. Read more on The Herald ...

Column
High court's ruling on education funding puts lawmakers on the spot. Read more on The Seattle Times ... 

Column
On K-12 education, Washington Supreme Court makes itself a super-legislature. Read more on The Seattle Times ...

Editorial
Voters must backfill local school districts' funding gap. Read more on The News Tribune ...

Editorial
Education reform proposals, including charters, could improve Washington state. Read more on The Seattle Times ...

Editorial
Federal Way school levies are worth your vote. Read more on Federal Way Mirror ...

Editorial
K-12: It's not just about the money. Read more on The Peninsula Gateway ... 

Editorial
High court's decision heralds a new day. Read more on Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber ... (subscription required)

Editorial
School measures deserve support in West, Naches valleys. Read more on Yakima Herald-Republic ...

Editorial
Scaled-down Selah school bonds worthy of support. Read more on Yakima Herald-Republic ...