This Week in Olympia

Week of May 29

With WEA occupiers no longer in Olympia, it’s a lot quieter around the rotunda. As budget negotiations continue behind closed doors, we are hearing that the meetings educators have been having with lawmakers in their home towns are making a difference. 

Keep up the good work – we must continue to press our points, because as we get to crunch time, everyone else is also pushing their case. And some like the things we are opposed to.  

You can continue to make a difference and push for what’s best for students, schools and educators. Call the legislative hotline with this message: 

My name is _____________ and I’m a constituent in your district. I’m calling to ask you to oppose the Senate Republican budget, because it limits local control of our schools and gives a huge property tax break to some big corporations. Vote against SB 5607 and SB 5875. 

The hotline is open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 1-800-562-6000. Remember to call from your own phone and not during school hours. 

We are running this video on cable in a few areas, as well as on Facebook. Be sure to look for it and share it with your friends on social media. Thanks to Linda, Adam and Brianna for their help taping the commercial; we think you’ll agree they’ve done a great job representing us.   

If you saw a “fact check” article about our prior radio ad, please note: the article ONLY addressed state funding, ignoring the local funding side of things. Here’s the truth:

• The Senate budget is bad for public schools and students. 
• It slashes total funding for special education students in many school districts, reducing it from current levels.
• It limits local control in our schools by limiting voter-approved levies and restricting district investments in teachers and other staff who work with kids.
• By limiting how much districts can invest in staff, it likely will result in teacher layoffs or pay cuts (and we have a teacher shortage right now).
• It reduces total per-pupil funding in more than 40 school districts by limiting local levy funding.
• And it doesn't provide the new revenue needed to amply fund K-12 public schools AND protect higher ed and crucial social and health services our students and their families need.

Don’t forget to visit “Take Action for Public Education” to learn how you can make a difference as the fight for funding nears its end, for now. 

Below is a sampling of actions taken or underway across the state. Contact your building rep or local president to find out how your local is supporting a strong legislative outcome for schools. Don’t see your local or council listed? Send us an email and we’ll add it next week. 

McCleary Candlelight Vigil, Friday, June 2, 8 – 10 p.m. at the Capitol Steps
Snoqualmie Valley EA  - McCleary rally on Friday, with its school board and administrators. 
Rally for education in Federal Way, with Governor Inslee. Friday, June 9, On Friday, June 9 at 3pm – 

Eastern council and Everett EA are among the latest to walk neighborhoods to distribute doorhangers. WEA Southeast members have also distributed doorhangers. Everett members made the news this week with their vote for a possible strike if the legislature limits bargaining rights. Several locals have also held similar votes. 

Chinook, Southeast and Eastern councils are working on ads, joining Sumner, Dieringer, Walla Walla, Wenatchee, Auburn, North Thurston, North Kitsap, East Valley, Grand Coulee Dam, 9 Mile, Selkirk, Inchelium, Chewelah, and Colville, Bellingham and Arlington in advertising programs.  

Many locals are participating in rallies, T-shirts, sign-waving and community events, including: North Kitsap, Ephrata, East Valley, Grand Coulee, 9 Mile, Camas, Selkirk, Inchelium, Chewelah and Colville EAs. WEA Southeast, Soundview, Puyallup, Northshore, Peninsula, and South Kitsap are also waving signs for McCleary. 

North Thurston was also joined by Evergreen EA in “planting” apples on the capitol lawn.  

Fourth Corner, Olympic and Summit councils and Wenatchee EA are sponsoring billboards.  

Ephrata EA, Southeast and Eastern councils are sending hundreds of McCleary postcards to legislators, as are the Sumner, Camas and Evergreen EAs. 

The events above are in addition to the dozens of locals and councils who sent hundreds of members and/or PTA/PTSA members to Occupy Olympia.