At the end of the school year last spring the big news was that the Legislature’s compromise budget cut $4.3 million from Issaquah Schools, but thanks to the levy lid lift and other cost-cutting measures by the District, local teachers given layoff notices in the spring were called back.  Because the Issaquah School District was able to stop layoffs, class sizes remain the same as previous years.  Also, even though certified staff are facing a 1.9% salary decrease, the District and the Issaquah Education Association reached an agreement that will allow staff to earn the decrease back by taking more professional-development trainings outside the school day.

The Washington Education Association, which Issaquah school teachers are a part, is party to a lawsuit filed this summer that challenges the supermajority vote requirement by state legislators for tax increases.  The parties say the limit in Initiative 1053 violates the state constitution and hampers the state’s ability to improve its public schools at a time of severe budget cuts.  Phyllis Runyon, President of the Issaquah Education Association, says that “The state of Washington is not following through on their paramount duty to fully fund education, and without new revenue, the state will undoubtedly continue to cut education.”

The top issues for the State PTA this school year are as follows:

1. Follow up on the reforms of 2009 and 2010
   1. New program of Basic Education (HB 2261)
   2. Accountability, evaluations and family engagement (SB 6696)
   3. Math and science instruction
   4. Literacy screening and instruction
   5. Reduction in force/layoff policies; base RIF/layoff decisions on traits other than just seniority, such as teacher effectiveness
   6. Fund education first in the state budget process
   7. Promote new, research-based model for teacher compensation by emphasizing  rewards for teacher effectiveness in improving student learning.

There were also 2 lesser issues that the State PTA supports:

1. Improve food quality in breakfast and lunch programs
2. Made physical education/health a core subject.

If you are interested in learning more about these issues and other issues affecting education in our community and in our State, you might be interested in going to the PTA Legislative Assembly in Seatac October 14-15.  Contact the Cougar Ridge Elementary Legislative Chair Stefanie Beighle at beighle@comcast.net to sign up.