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As state lawmakers begin their session in Olympia trying to batten down the spending hatches in the face of Washington’s coming multibillion dollar budget deficits, the Garfield High School PTSA is sharing a roster of actions to take to speak up for school funding in the coming weeks, months, and years of possible cutbacks.

The recommendations comes after a briefing at the group’s recent meeting with State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-43rd District).

“If you are interested in fairly and adequately funded public schools, and seeing that Seattle gets the resources needed for all our students (and helping fill the giant SPS budget deficit), then the current bills up for debate starting tomorrow are worth raising your voice,” the group says.

The full message is below.

The recommendations come as advocates across the spectrum of government and services are facing choppy legislative waters with Washington’s deficit predicted to leap beyond $12 billion over the next four years due to factors including the changing economy’s growth but slowed consumer spending generating less tax revenue, lowering home sales, and the state’s capital gains tax bringing in lower totals than expected paired with increased costs and demands for the state’s services and programs.

State lawmakers are expected to spend part of this year’s session trying to establish new or increased sources of revenue in addition to making plans for cutbacks.

For education, there might be some hard stops in any further reduction. Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal says Washington could end up in court over falling short of constitutional requirements around its education spending.

Seattle voters will also have local say in replacing needed funding for the city’s public school system with two education levies on the February ballot. The votes come after last year’s tense reversal by the district on a school closure plan.

The full Garfield PTSA advocacy message is below:

Dear Garfield community member,

We want to thank State Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen (D-43rd District) for taking the time during the busy legislative season to come to the PTSA Meeting in the GHS library last week, and brief the school community about the state budget situation and the implication for funding education. Basically, it doesn’t look great, and hence it’s more important than ever to ask legislators to prioritize school funding.

We came to understand, in a nutshell, that specific education bills pending in the Legislature will help address gaps in current funding plans and formulas, in ways that go beyond the targeted activities and populations. These offset costs will likely help close overall SPS deficits, and thus help every student.

Time-sensitive request: Raise your voice to your legislators on school funding!

If you are interested in fairly and adequately funded public schools, and seeing that Seattle gets the resources needed for all our students (and helping fill the giant SPS budget deficit), then the current bills up for debate starting tomorrow (Tuesday) are worth raising your voice.

Please consider these ideas:

Do your research. Read content from news services such as the Washington State Standard:

• Education funding articles
• Overview of the Legislative Session

  •Visit grass-roots advocacy sites such as Fund SPS and use the forms to email your representatives.
  • Join the legislative Action Alerts mailing list of the Washington State PTA (WSPTA).
  • Directly register your voice with the Legislature (includes option for written opinions).

WSPTA points out that our state is not fully funding the cost of basic education, forcing districts to cut essential services. WSPTA calls for full funding of the “big 3”: transportation; materials, supplies, and operating costs (MSOC); and special education, covered by three Senate bills scheduled for a committee hearing on Wednesday (Jan. 22).

WSPTA asks you to register “pro” for each bill. It is easy! If you never created a Legislature login, you’ll do so now on the committee hearing page. You will supply basic contact info (no street address needed).

Next, choose the bill you’d like to address, and the type of testimony (such as “have my position noted for the legislative record”). Choose “pro.”

• Transportation (SB 5187): Take action!
• MSOC (SB 5192): Take action!
• Special education (SB 5263 is preferred): Take action!

Thanks and best regards,

Puneet Dewan

Volunteer Advocacy Co-Chair, on behalf of the Garfield PTSA Board of Directors

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