A Web-based newsletter for the staff of Everett Public Schools

Special Edition, Feb. 11, 2010 (NewsLinks articles are now archived on Docushare)

MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT – Congratulations on levies’ success, and a report on legislative advocacy

On Tuesday night, the levy campaign committee celebrated election results at Levy Central, where, during the last three and a half months of campaign work, dozens of you volunteered night after night with parents and community members to help voters understand just how important these two levies are to student achievement.

Your work as volunteers paid off in the impressive 60+% results which we expect will hold strong until the election is officially certified by the county auditor’s office.

In addition to an affirmation of a campaign well run by volunteers who care about our students and our schools, the election results affirm the good work being done in our schools every day. It is indicative of the tremendous respect your work has garnered in the community over many years.

The results are also a remarkable accomplishment in this economic environment, and, as Board President Ed Petersen said to the Herald reporter last night, “…It sends a powerful message to the Legislature that the public values public education highly.”

Legislative advocacy

On Sunday and Monday of this week, four of your board members, six ASB leaders representing our high schools, and I spent two days in Olympia. Our legislators were gracious and welcoming to the Everett Public Schools delegation and found themselves fully and respectfully engaged with our high school students. These students represented not only themselves and other students very well, they also magnificently represented your contributions to their education in our district:

· Jorge Posades, Everett High School ASB President

· Jacobe Sell, Cascade High School ASB Co-President

· Kaitie Brush, Cascade High School ASB Co-President

· Ariella Shriver, Sequoia High School ASB Co-President

· AnnaRose Zylstra, Sequoia High School ASB Co-President

· Alexa Warnek, Jackson High School ASB Vice-President

Our conference began at 1 p.m. on Sunday during the Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) Conference. Our students joined tables with school board members and administrators from around the state – all of whom were in Olympia to help legislators understand the importance of school funding. I received many compliments from adults impressed with the caliber and knowledge of our high school student leaders.

Monday for our students and board members was filled with face-to-face meetings with:

· Rep. Mike Sells

· Sen. Jean Berkey

· Rep. Al O’Brien

· Rep. Larry Springer

· Rep. John McCoy

· Gov. Christine Gregoire

· Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe

Interspersed with those appointments, the six students and three board members spent time with Justice Susan Owens who took them through the Supreme Court and discussed in-depth the state’s highest court. Afterward, the students and directors met with Gov. Christine Gregoire, who answered students’ questions about issues such as the length of the legislative session and the ramifications of the recent Superior Court (McCleary vs. the State) decision about school funding. (You might want to read attorney Buzz Porter’s blog explaining why everyone should take the time to read Judge Erlick’s 103-page ruling. Mr. Porter states, “Drawing upon sources as diverse as Horace Mann, Newt Gingrich and Sandra Day O’Connor, as well as at least ten prior court decisions, Judge Erlick finds this conclusion to be more than a philosophical or political statement–it’s embedded in our law.”)

Our message was consistent with our board’s pre-session legislator meetings last fall and winter. We asked them to focus on critical issues to Everett and the state, including:

1. Protect K-4 class size. Each year of school is important, but research shows that students who have caring adults in their lives at lower grade levels build stronger social and academic foundations for success throughout their school years.

2. Maintain I-728 funding so that school districts can continue to build on the student achievement progress and improved graduation rates which have resulted from strategic use of I-728 funds.

3. Support the levy restoration bills which allow school districts to collect local funds at levels with which their residents are familiar and which will maintain academic programs and continually improving student achievement.

4. Do not raise the levy lid. Doing so would only widen the gap between “have” and “have not” districts and push the state’s burden of fully funding schools onto the backs of local economies and taxpayers.

5. On behalf of all school districts, do not take away Local Effort Assistance (LEA), also called Levy Equalization. Like #4 above, this would also dramatically widen the funding gap among the state’s school districts.

We know legislators will be making difficult budget decisions this session, and it is unreasonable to think that public education funding will remain untouched by those decisions. All indications are that legislators are considering reductions to classroom programs among the ways they wrestle with balancing the state’s budget.

As was necessary last year, this district must prepare for cost containment and budget reductions coming to us as a result of state decisions. In the aftermath of good news about our community’s support of our levies, news about budget cuts coming from the state is difficult to send and understandably difficult to hear.

What we know now about the district budget:

· Over the last six years, the district has reduced expenses $16 million – $9 million was last year alone.

· Based upon information available now, we are faced with possible budget reductions for next year of another $7 million.

· Even though both levies passed on Tuesday, we must face the harsh realities of legislatively imposed budget reductions today. The good news is that the amount to cut is a projected $7 million instead of $47 million which would have been necessary if the Replacement Levy had failed.

What we are doing about the district budget:

· Making our case in Olympia as described earlier. We have also been meeting with legislators individually since last fall, and will continue this effort.

· Meeting with the Fiscal Advisory Council that includes staff and community representation. They are learning about the scope and complexity of school funding and will give valuable perspectives about efficiency and priorities.

· Preparing for public budget meetings and ways to share budget information with you as quickly as there is clarity from Olympia – and in ways that honor negotiated contracts and our relationships with all school staff.

“These are the times that try men’s souls,” as Thomas Paine said so poignantly.

Those of us who have been in education for a long time, know the stakes are higher today for schools, and the expected process of change is faster and more intense. We also know that public education will remain a cornerstone of our democracy, and that students will continue to come to us. Their families will expect us to do our best to prepare those students for successful futures. Our work will continue, and it will continue to evolve and change. This is a time that we all must learn to be comfortable with and flexible in the face of ambiguity and uncertainty.

I am committed to keeping that uncertainty and ambiguity as manageable as possible and to staying in touch with you about state decisions that will touch each of us.

LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE – “economy is beginning to stabilize”

As you may remember, we have been publishing the WSSDA legislative updates for you on Docushare. Wednesday’s report had some encouraging news.

In other budget news, it appears that Washington’s economy is beginning to stabilize. Official numbers will not be released until the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council meets this Friday, Feb. 12; however, early indications are that revenues will be slightly up (about $50 million) from previous projections. This certainly isn’t a big increase, but it is much better than the drastic reductions we’ve seen in the last several Forecast updates. This means the current projection of a $2.6 billion shortfall for the remainder of the biennium probably won’t change much.

Everett Public Schools complies with all federal and state rules and regulations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran status, or disability. This holds true for all students who are interested in participating in educational programs and/or extracurricular school activities. Inquiries regarding compliance and/or grievance procedures may be directed to the school district's Affirmative Action Officer, Title IX Officer, ADA District Coordinator, or Section 504 Coordinator. Affirmative Action Officer, Carol Stolz, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4106, Title IX Officer, Randi Seaberg, 3715 Oakes Ave., Everett WA 98201, 425-385-4104, ADA Coordinator, Kristine McDowell, 202 Alder St., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-5250, Section 504 Coordinator, Becky Ballbach, 4730 Colby Ave., Everett WA 98203, 425-385-4086.

Diane Lindenstein

Communications Dept.

Everett Public Schools

425-385-4040

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