Basic education gets fresh start after bill rejection
February 26, 2009
By Chantelle Lusebrink
Hopes for education reform in the state were partially dashed Feb. 18 when both legislative bodies rejected further discussion on House Bill 1410 and Senate Bill 5444.
“In terms of what is coming out of the Legislature, the education reform proposals are still alive,” said Rep. Glenn Anderson. “The challenge we have is coming to the best of our abilities to a broad agreement.
“The devil is always in the details,” he said.
The two bills were the result of several years of studies, ideas and recommendations from two groups, the Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance, and its predecessor, the Washington Learns Steering Committee.
Final recommendations from each were included in the two pieces of legislation by local representatives, like representatives Anderson, and Jay Rodne.
Despite years of work, many groups, like the Washington Education Association and its members, had several problems with the bills, specifically those portions that changed teacher’s salary schedule and additional reporting and oversight reporting without identified funding sources.
“The biggest challenge has been the Washington Education Association and its membership, and how it hasn’t been entirely consistent in this process,” Anderson said, adding that he realizes change to the profession can be difficult. “In the next few weeks, we are really going to have to have heart-to-heart conversations, because half the teachers in the state retire within the next 10 years, and our obligation is to setup a pipeline and a framework to be successful for the next generation.”
Sen. Eric Oemig, a Democrat from the 45th Legislative District, and Rep. Pat Sullivan, a Democrat from the 47th Legislative District, have sponsored new legislation, Senate Bill 6048 and House Bill 2261, respectively.
The two were drafted as intent-only bills, meaning the bills only declare the Legislature’s intent to revise the definition of basic education and its funding system. The two bills do not identify how that will be done.
Instead, the two representatives are meeting with education, parent and government stakeholders to work through each section of House Bill 1410 and Senate Bill 5444 to find consensus and compromise for the language of the two new bills.
As the process gets started, Anderson said, he still sees this as the year to pass reform.
“We get paid to make the tough decisions people can’t or won’t make, and if we can’t or won’t make them for the next generation, then who is?” he asked.
Reach Reporter Chantelle Lusebrink at 392-6434, ext. 241, or clusebrink@isspress.com.
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