The state Constitution is clear: For Washington's 1.1 million public school students, amply funded public schools are a civil right. In its 2012 McCleary decision, the Washington Supreme court ordered the state to follow the Constitution and to provide ample funding for basic education. Since then, the state has made some progress but has made little to no progress on the investments that will make the biggest difference for our kids, including smaller K-12 class sizes and competitive compensation to attract and keep great educators.

That's why school funding is going to be the big issue in this fall's state election and in the 2017 legislative session that starts in January.

There are starkly different visions for what should happen. As educators we put students at the center of everything we do. Here are our recommendations for fully funding basic education as required by the McCleary decision:

• Fund smaller class sizes in every grade and additional support staff (from nurses to custodians) as required by I-1351, which is now the law. Students have the right to small class sizes and professional support that provide the individual one-on-one attention they need to be successful.
• Fully fund competitive, professional base pay and benefits to attract and keep caring, qualified teachers and support staff. Students have the right to caring and committed teachers.
• Fund 10 days of professional development. Students have the right to qualified and well-trained teachers.
• Fund the full cost of supplies, operating costs, and transportation, and make sure all schools are equipped with modern technology. students have the right to well-maintained schools, current curriculum, safe buses, and adequate school supplies.
• Fund specific needs, including special education, gifted, learning assistance program, and ELL services. All students have the constitutional right to a quality education.
• Fully fund school construction to modernize existing schools, build new schools, and expand classroom capacity. Students have the right to learn in clean and safe facilities.
• Protect levy funding and preserve local control of public schools. All students have the right to a public education that meets their unique needs. Local school boards, educators, and parents best know their students' needs and the specific needs of their own communities. They are not served by a levy swap that redirects local taxpayer dollars to the state.

It's simple: McCleary requires the state to increase funding for basic education. McCleary does not require limiting local collective bargaining or restricting how levy funds are used to enrich basic education. For more information, visit: OurVoice.

The Sammamish UniServ Council, of which SVEA is a member, is hosting a workshop about certification issues. It will be held at Pine Lake Middle School in Sammamish on October 6 from 4:30-7:30. Especially if you are in your first five years as an educator, be sure to attend. Please RSVP by emailing Charlotte Cole at ccole@washingtonea.org if you plan to attend.

SVEA members love working in the Snoqualmie Valley. But it isn't always easy living in the area on an educator's salary. This is especially true when educators in surrounding districts have historically earned more than those in SVSD. With this in mind, SVSD and SVEA collectively bargained Attract and Retain Stipends to ensure our pay is competitive with neighboring districts (Issaquah, Lake Washington, Riverview, & Tahoma).

The bargaining teams studied compensation in these districts and agreed on stipends that would place SVEA members at the average for their level of education and years of experience. Based on this research, the yearly Attract and Retain Stipends for 2016-19 are as follows:

• 0-11.99 Years of Experience: $500
• 12-16.99 Years of Experience: $750
• 17-23.99 Years of Experience: $1,500
• 24-29.99 Years of Experience: $2,000
• 30+ Years of Experience: $3,500

These stipends will allow SVSD to attract and retain the most highly qualified and effective educators possible - rather than lose them to neighboring districts that offer more competitive compensation.

Grant applications are due October 7. Thanks SVSF for supporting our many innovative educators. This year's grant application can be found at https://svsfoundation-public.sharepoint.com/classroom_grants.

As a member of SVEA, you are offered many rights and benefits. Here are just some of them:

• You have the right to union representation during investigatory interviews. Contact your building representative or our President, Lisa Radmer, immediately if you are being investigated.
• As a WEA member you are eligible for Educator Employee Liability insurance.
• The WEA also provides members some discounted legal rates via the Attorney Referral Program.
• You're entitled to view your local contract. Once finalized, our contract will be posted on the district and SVEA websites.
• Understand the grievance process and what to do when the district violates your contract.

From OurVoice...

On Sept. 7, the Washington Supreme Court will once again hold a hearing for state officials to explain why they haven’t complied with the court’s demand for a plan to fully fund public schools.

In Washington state, public education is a civil right guaranteed by the state Constitution. A quality public education gives all children the opportunity to be successful. Yet every day the state fails to fully fund basic education, we are violating our children’s civil rights.

We do not know what action the court will take after the hearing, including whether the court will impose tougher sanctions beyond the $100,000 a day the state is being fined (which now totals nearly $39 million).

We do know that instead of fully funding basic education, the 2016 Legislature punted – they created yet another committee to study school funding (the fifth or sixth such group, by some accounts).

Earlier this summer, the committee held hearings and solicited recommendations from stakeholders. WEA submitted our recommendations for funding the basic education our children deserve, regardless of their ZIP Code or family background.

It really is pretty basic:

• Fund smaller class sizes in every grade level and additional support staff as required by I-1351, which is now the law.
• Fully fund competitive, professional base pay and benefits for all K-12 school employees, and maintain flexibility for school districts to supplement educators’ pay beyond the base state salary.
• Fund 10 days of professional development.
• Fund the full cost of supplies, curriculum, operating costs and transportation, and make sure all schools are equipped with modern technology.
• Fund specific student needs, including special education, gifted, learning assistance program, and transitional bilingual education for English language learners.
• Fully fund school construction to modernize existing schools, build new schools and expand classroom capacity.
• Protect levy funding and preserve local control of public schools.

​WEA’s complete report, including salary and class size charts, is here. Our plan also calls for increasing state revenue and reforming the state’s tax code to make it more fair.