The Washington Supreme Court issued an order fining the State $100,000 a day, effective August 13th, until they comply with their constitutional duty to amply fund public schools. The court is clear that basic education funding includes transportation, maintenance, and supply money, all day kindergarten, lower class size in K-3, and personnel.
The Legislature failed to comply in the following ways:
- To insure class size reductions K-3 for all schools (average of 17 students)
- To provide sufficient capital outlays so that schools have the space to house the additional classes that will result from lower class sizes and full day kindergarten.
- To offer any plan for achieving constitutional compliance by 2018
- To fund the actual cost of recruiting and retaining competent teachers, administrators, and staff. The Judges emphasize the State “ must do something in the matter of compensation that will achieve full state funding of public education salaries” – rather than rely on local levies.
We will discuss this order, our upcoming bargain, have nominations for VP and vote on a SVEA Vice-President at our General Membership meeting August 26th, after the lunch break, at Mt. Si High School Auditorium.
See you then.
Lisa Radmer
SVEA President