Legislative Conference update

Fully funding public education hot topic at 2016 Legislative Conference
Superintendent Dr. Bill Jordan and School Board President Cindy Meyer and Director Ruth Ladderud attended the 2016 Legislative Conference in Olympia last weekend. Hot topics for the conference included providing additional enhancements in the Supplemental Budget to address underfunding of basic education. Legislators were also urged to enhance the state’s investment in K-12 construction by increasing the formulas for the Construction Cost Allowance and Student Space Allocation to ensure funding more closely reflects actual construction costs and educational space needs.

They also discussed the statewide teacher and substitute shortage and the need to pass legislation to secure the elimination of the Biology End of Course exam as a high school graduation requirement effective with the Class of 2017. There were also talks about the need to amend the constitution to authorize school district bonds to be approved with a simple majority.

“We are urging our legislators to fully fund basic education as stipulated by the McCleary Decision,” said Meyer. “The current system for funding our public schools and compensating our staff is not sustainable and it is time for our elected officials to take action in support of our staff, students and families.”