NEWS RELEASE

February 29, 2008

For more information:

Mary Waggoner, 425-385-4049

Everett school board supports fair and equitable state funding

At their meeting Tuesday night, Everett Public Schools Board of Directors unanimously approved Resolution 896 supporting

…legislative efforts to equalize the state funding formulas…

The resolution asks legislators to address funding for teaching, administrative and classified staff simultaneously and asks for

approval of SSB 5135 and HB 2642 in the 2008 State legislative session.

EVERETTSCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 2

IN SUPPORT OF FAIR ANDEQUITABLE STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS

RESOLUTION NO. 896

WHEREAS

, the Everett School District receives the majority of its annual revenue from the state's basic education

apportionment formulas for teaching, administrative, and classified staff; and

WHEREAS

, the state's basic education apportionment formulas fund teaching, administrative, and classified staff at different

dollar amounts for different school districts; and

WHEREAS

, the funding disparities do not reflect any rational differences in geography, demographics, student population,

cost of living, or any other educationally relevant variable, and do not serve any compelling government interest; and

WHEREAS,

these funding inequities have a ripple effect on other areas of education funding, including employee benefits and

special education reimbursements, as well as the ability of local taxpayers to levy additional revenue for the maintenance and

operation of schools; and

WHEREAS,

on November 2, 2007, King County Superior Court Judge Michael Heavey ruled in

Federal Way School District v.

State

that these funding disparities violate Article IX, section 2 of the Washington Constitution, which requires the state

legislature to provide for a general and uniform system of public schools; and

WHEREAS,

Judge Heavey also ruled that these funding disparities violate the equal protection rights of students, teachers,

and taxpayers under Article I, Section 12 of the Washington Constitution; and

WHEREAS,

Substitute Senate Bill 5135 and House Bill 2642, which would equalize salary allocations over five or six years and

therefore remedy the constitutional deficiency identified by Judge Heavey, are before the state legislature;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED

by the Board of Directors of Everett School District No. 2 as follows:

1. The Board supports legislative efforts to equalize the state funding formulas, and believes that any equalization effort should

address funding for teaching, administrative, and classified staff simultaneously; and

2. The Board supports the passage of SSB 5135 or HB 2642 in the 2008 WashingtonStatelegislative session; and

3. The Superintendent is directed to communicate this Resolution to Governor Christine Gregoire, State Senator Margarita

Prentice, State Representative Helen Sommers, State Representative Kathy Haigh, and all state legislators whose districts

include a portion of the Everett School District.

ADOPTED

by the Board of Directors of Everett School District No. 2 at an open public meeting held on February 26, 2008,

notice of which was given as required by law, the following directors being present and voting therefore.

Karen Madsen, President

Kristie Dutton, Vice President

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Carol Andrews, Director

Sue Cooper, Director

Ed Petersen, Director

Attested by:

Carol Whitehead, Ed.D.

Secretary to the Board

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