from Dan Steele, WSSDA Director of Governmental Relations
FOR MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2009

On Monday, the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee held a public hearing on SB 6048, the new vehicle for a new education finance system. As we discussed in Friday’s Update, HB 1410/SB 5444 (the bills to implement recommendations from the Basic Education Task Force) and HB 1817/SB 5607 (the bills to implement the Full Funding Coalition’s education finance system plan) are essentially dead. SB 6048, as introduced, only includes one section, an “intent” section which describes what the Legislature hopes to accomplish with a new education finance system. Sen. Eric Oemig, prime sponsor of SB 6048, began the hearing by speaking on behalf of his bill. Oemig described how the previous bills had become contentious and there was a growing “us versus them” mentality about the bills and legislators who wanted to seriously address education finance believed the best approach was to start over with a “clean slate.” The concerns about the state’s funding woes are understood; however, Oemig and others strongly believe that the Legislature should not “punt” and avoid addressing a new funding system, rather they should begin to establish a new foundation now.

Everyone — with the exception of WEA and some of their members — testifying today spoke out in favor of the intent behind SB 6048. WEA representatives continued to air their concerns that SB 6048 (along with SB 5444 and similar efforts) serve only to distract legislators, educators and the public from the real crisis this session: the state budget. WSSDA’s President, Martha Rice, spoke out in favor of the bill on behalf of school directors, saying SB 6048 was a good foundation upon which to build a new system. She reiterated our strong support for: a new, strong (and funded) definition of Basic Education; a new, flexible funding system using a prototype schools model; and the creation of a nonpartisan oversight commission to watch over the implementation and funding of a new education finance system. Rice thanked legislators for bringing this bill forward, but reminded them that this is only the beginning — and we remain committed to working towards an ultimate solution. Barbara Mertens, WASA, summed up the issue by stating the introduction of this bill was like “hitting the reset button.” She remarked that through this process stakeholders and legislators need to ask and answer three basic questions: 1) Where are we today? 2) Where do we want to go? and 3) What are the individual steps we need to take to get there?

Addressing some of the criticism of the bill and this new approach, Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, Chair of the Committee, reiterated that SB 6048 is currently a “place-holder,” but it will be the vehicle to bring a compromise between SB 5444 and SB 5607 (and other potential proposals). (Note: HB 2261, the House’s identical companion of SB 6048, will be the vehicle to address a compromise of HB 1410 and HB 1817 in the House.) McAuliffe also strongly stated that SB 6048 does not contemplate more studies; it is intended to establish a plan to implement a new system. Following through on the intent to act, immediately following public testimony on SB 6048, the Committee moved to executive session and quickly passed the bill out.

Please do not be mistaken — much work is left to be done to establish a new, flexible, stable and fully funded education finance system. However, today’s action — and continuing movement on compromises behind the scenes — is a positive sign. WSSDA will continue working with legislators in an effort to forge a compromise that will bring positive change for school directors, other educators, the public, and most importantly, the students of Washington.
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WSSDA legislative reports are prepared by WSSDA's Governmental Relations staff team: Dan Steele (360.252.3010) and Sheila Chard (360.252.3011). We welcome your questions and comments. We also encourage school directors to keep in touch with their legislators on a regular basis. If you need contact information, visit the Legislature's District Lookup Tool. WSSDA also provides a number of links to key House and Senate committees.