Welcome to Outlook

Welcome to the Washington Education Association's Legislative Outlook, a regular update on what's happening in Olympia. The paper version of Outlook is mailed to every WEA building representative in the state. (If you are a rep, please post Outlook on your WEA bulletin board.) You can subscribe to the e-mail version of Outlook by sending an e-mail to Lyris. Include the words "subscribe weaoutlook" in the body of the message. A printable version of Outlook is available online (Adobe PDF file). Questions? Contact Rich Wood in the WEA Communications Department.

Call Gov. Gregoire

Gov. Chris Gregoire will be writing a state budget proposal in the next month, and WEA members are asking her to fully fund voter-mandated COLAs for school employees.

Gregoire has stated her support for funding the COLAs, which were suspended two years ago. WEA members can thank Gregoire for her support by calling the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000 and leaving a message. You can e-mail Gregoire via the WEA Web page.

Here are three basic points about educator compensation this session:

• The state has an obligation to follow the will of the voters and to fully fund Initiative 732.
• The state should also make up the salary educators lost during the two-year suspension of I-732.
• The state should fund health insurance benefits at a rate that keeps pace with increased costs.

Principal gets it wrong on countywide levy bill

A bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Ross Hunter (D-Bellevue) would allow voters to invest more in local schools via countywide school levies. The money could be used to fund student enrichment programs, professional development for teachers and additional pay for educators, especially in high-cost areas. House Bill 1484 would let voters better meet the needs of their local schools. Even though the levies could benefit students across the state, a misguided critic has wrongly attacked Hunter's proposal with falsehoods, both about the bill and WEA's support for it.

Here's the truth:

• All of WEA's legislative goals, including the concept behind HB 1484, are approved by the 1,000-member WEA Representative Assembly and/or the WEA Board. All WEA members have the ability to influence WEA's legislative goals and participate in the decision-making process.
• The revenue from countywide levies could be used to fund much-needed student programs in areas such as Yakima County and other counties outside of the Puget Sound region.
• WEA members were the leading supporters of I-732 and COLAs for all school employees.
• Restoring I-732 and making up what was lost by its two-year suspension remains one of WEA's top priorities for this session. HB 1484 is no substitute for state-funded COLAs, nor does I-732 address the high cost of living in certain parts of the state.
• WEA's support for HB 1484 is no secret. WEA has featured HB 1484 on its Web site and in Legislative Outlook, and four WEA members testified in support of the bill earlier this week. In the past, WEA has helped organize press conferences in support of similar proposals.

The bill is set for a vote Feb. 15 in the House Education Committee. Sen. Brian Weinstein (D-Mercer Island) is sponsoring the Senate version, SB 5786. It is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 16 in the Senate Education Committee.

Gregoire proposes education funding study

WEA is backing a school finance study proposal by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

It's the first step toward providing the increased funding schools need to ensure all students meet higher academic standards.

The House Appropriations Committee recently heard House Bill 1380, which calls for a comprehensive study of school funding. WEA Director of Public Policy Miebeth Bustillo-Booth testified in support of the bill this week.

"We … strongly urge you to address structural issues through the finance study so that we can finally find long-term solutions that ensure the success of our students and educators," Bustillo-Booth said.

The study would determine how much it would take to fully fund K-12 schools as required by the state Constitution and using the current definition of basic education.

The companion Senate bill is SB 5441.

Fix and fund NCLB, educators say

WEA members are testifying today (Feb. 10) in support of a memorial urging George Bush and Congress to fix and fully fund the so-called No Child Left Behind Act.

Bush's new budget proposal cuts funding for public schools at the same time he wants to mandate additional testing for high school students.

Kentlake High School teacher Lisa Brackin Johnson was set to testify in support of Senate Joint Memorial 8011.

"…there are many problems with implementing the No Child Left Behind Law…," Johnson said.

State budget woes worsen

The state budget situation is bad and getting worse.

"The budget deficit grew by about $650 million last week," said Randy Parr, WEA lobbyist and budget expert.

The estimated state budget shortfall now tops $2.2 billion.

Parr said federal funding for schools is expected to decrease by an estimated $200 million and the state Supreme Court recently struck down the state estate tax at a cost of approximately $450 million in state revenue. That's on top of an existing budget gap of about $1.6 billion.

"They keep getting bad news," Parr said of state budget writers.

The budget situation highlights the need to improve the state's revenue system to ensure that public schools have stable and adequate funding.

Notable quotes

"Pen and paper tests aren't for everyone. A student who excels on traditional tests is not academically superior to one who shines when allowed to demonstrate knowledge in another way. It simply means that while both students may have mastered the same level of proficiency, they require different methods to prove it." -- Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, The News Tribune, 2/10/05

"Seattle is not the only district facing financial challenges. Across the state, many schools' expenses are rising faster than revenues. Many districts complain about inadequate funding from the state Legislature, which is constitutionally mandated to pay for what's called "basic education." In one recent analysis by the national Education Week newspaper, Washington ranked 42nd in the nation in per-pupil spending." -- The Seattle Times, 2/10/05

"Successive Legislatures have weaseled out of paying full freight for schools." -- Ken Schram, KOMO TV, 2/4/05

Please contact Rich Wood if you have questions or comments about the content in Legislative Outlook.

If you have other comments about this newsletter, please contact Brooke Mattox.

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