The legislative session this year will include several key education issues including easing levy passage for local school districts, funding and charter schools.
“We have a bill out right now regarding the levies – we’re trying to change from the supermajority, 60 percent, to just 50 percent,” said Sen. Paull Shin, D-Mukilteo. “Levy failure is getting more and more constant.”
Though changing the necessary supermajority for district levies has been on his to-do list for several years, Shin said of his hopes for passage in this session. “One never knows, but you just have to try until it’s done.”
This change would be welcome in the Edmonds School District. The safety bond and technology levy that would have bought a new Lynnwood High School, earthquake safety improvements and modern technology to all schools in the district, failed in both 2002 and 2003 earning just under the necessary 60 percent majority of votes. The final ballot count in 2003 showed a 56.38 percent approval for the safety bond and a 56.34 percent approval for the technology levy. District officials said they hope to try again this year for the measures.
Financial reform, a constant on educators’ radar screen, also is in line for this session, which begins Jan. 12.
“It’s a key issue. I want to try to put some more money into education,” Shin said.
The money Shin is hoping to set aside would be funneled into the education pot via Initiative 728, which helps pay for student scholarships, and Initiative 732, designed to increase teacher salaries. I-728 was only partially funded in 2003 and I-732 was put on hold due to the state’s $2.2. billion deficit last year.
Shin is hopeful the measures will be funded in 2004.
“The revenue for the state has been increasing every month, so when we meet in January we should be in better shape,” Shin said.
Charter schools, another issue that has been on the board for several years, will face tough opposition this session. The legislation regarding charter schools in Washington was passed by the Senate in 2003, but failed to reach a vote in the House.
“I am working very hard to stop charter schools,” said Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds. “The bill … would allow people to have access to our regular state support for education and our levy dollars and to me that is not acceptable.”
Though charter schools run independently from other public schools, they are state-funded in the same manner. Competing for already-tight state funds and levy dollars is unacceptable, Chase said.
Results of established charter schools are also of concern.
“When we looked at what’s happened across the country (with charter schools), teachers are paid less money and there is a higher turnover,” Chase said.
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