WEA members and lobbyists tackle top education priorities in Olympia
Today (Jan. 14) is the first day of the 2019 Washington legislative session – and school funding continues to be a top issue.
It’s a long, 105-day budget-writing session set to run through April. 28. After the Legislature approved billions in new K-12 funding in 2017 and 2018, the Supreme Court ruled Washington legislators were finally in compliance with the court’s McCleary order on school funding.
The huge increase in state funding was a major victory for WEA members and our students – a victory that took years for us to achieve.
Still, lawmakers have a lot more work to do on school issues, including supporting healthy students and safe schools. We believe all students deserve the individual help, support and resources they need to be successful in the classroom and in the community.
That’s why WEA members are urging the Washington Legislature and Gov. Jay Inslee to fund additional counselors, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers and other mental health services for all students in every public school. Sign our school safety petition here.
Student testing, improving educator health care and restoring levy flexibility for local school districts are other top issues for WEA.
“We strongly support Gov. Inslee’s proposal to restore levy flexibility, which will allow school districts and local voters to meet the specific needs of their students beyond state-funded basic education,” says WEA President Kim Mead.
Here is the complete list of 2019 Legislative Priorities approved by the WEA Board of Directors. Each of those priorities is assigned to a professional WEA lobbyist who tracks legislation and lobbies for or against bills based on WEA’s priorities and positions.
Here is the WEA lobby team:
- Lucinda Young, chief lobbyist: K-12 professional issues, teacher quality, union rights, school safety, political issues, early learning
- Julie Salvi, lobbyist: compensation, pensions, health care
- Lorrell Noahr, lobbyist: federal, state and local education funding; school construction
- Simone Boe, lobbyist: K-12 student issues, higher education, testing
- Hillary Hunt, public policy associate
WEA’s annual Member Lobby Day in Olympia is Feb. 18 (Presidents’ Day) and is open to all WEA members. On Jan. 23 at 7 pm, WEA President Kim Mead is hosting a telephone town hall for WEA members to review WEA’s legislative priorities. WEA lobbyists will be on the call to answer questions.
Email us for more information about either event.
Find more legislative information and learn how you can take action and get involved to support Washington’s 1.1 million public school students.
