Fight continues for school finance reforms

“I am not influenced by the expectation of promotion or pecuniary reward. I wish to be useful, and every kind of public service necessary for the public good, becomes honorable by being necessary.”

Benjamin Franklin

Ben Franklin had it right: Public servants are results-driven.

Sometimes it’s easy. Last year, we passed a bill giving health-care benefits to the families of police officers and firefighters who die in the line of duty. That legislation went to the governor without a dissenting vote.

Sometimes it’s hard. I’m referring to Senate Bill 5135, the proposal I introduced on behalf of the Federal Way School District and districts across the state. It would create a level playing field for recruiting and retaining vital staff. Starting this year, we would launch a six-year plan for introducing salary equalization for all education staff. During this period, the bill would allow school districts to collect additional levy and levy equalization revenues by changing how those amounts are calculated.

We’re having difficulties not because the bill is technical but because it’s become a partisan issue.

For several sessions I have heard volumes from the families, educators and school board members in Federal Way. They care passionately about our schools. Each year, they say, the district struggles to keep pace with rising costs. Passing levies helps somewhat. It’s the outdated way the state matches local dollars that leaves too many districts — like Federal Way — behind.

The problem is how we “drive” state money to individual districts. Inequities are caused by the 34 districts that were grandfathered almost 30 years ago when the Basic Education Act went into effect. Despite work to narrow the gap between the “have” and “have not” districts, the gap remains, and the “have nots” are still hurting.

The result is that Federal Way is still at a disadvantage, ranking 263rd among the 296 school districts in dollars-per-student funding. For the seventh-largest district, the consequences have been dire. Cutting programs and positions is hard. Facing such onerous actions, with the uncertainty and unpredictability these cuts cause, has been demoralizing and painful.

So I introduced my measure to make the financing reforms our school districts, and especially Federal Way, need to keep our children learning in safe, well-staffed and well-equipped facilities. Federal Way Superintendent Thomas Murphy made an excellent presentation to the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee in support of this bill.

But imagine my surprise when I discovered this is a political issue. When we voted the bill out of the committee, not a single Republican voted “yes” on a bill that would help every Washington district.

I thought that when it comes to our kids, we all want fairness and equity, in curriculum, staffing and funding. But no, school funding has become a partisan issue. That’s wrong.

I’ve listened to hundreds of concerned Federal Way families, educators and business people who want our children receive a first-class education, on a playing field that is level with other districts’.

So I’ll continue to fight for the resources to pay our teachers, staff members and others on a par with what’s paid elsewhere. I’ll continue to fight to so we don’t have to balance budgets through layoffs and cuts. And I’ll continue to fight to give Federal Way schools and schools across Washington the money they need to give our children the best possible education.

But it looks like only my Democratic colleagues are allies. What a shame. I thought we all agreed that our children deserved more.

Sen. Tracey J. Eide, D-Federal Way

Sen. Eide is the Senate majority floor leader. She serves on the Early Learning & K-12 Education; Rules; and Transportation committees.

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