Electronic newsletter

Dear Neighbor,

We are in the last scheduled week of the 2007 legislative session in Olympia. As we sprint to the finish line, I would like to take a few moments to update you on a few important issues affecting our district — simple majority school levies, all-day kindergarten and climate change.

Simple Majority School Levy Passage

Last week, I voted in favor of a simple majority measure for school levies. If signed by the governor as expected, the measure will go to the voters, who can then decide in the next general election whether to eliminate the supermajority requirement.

We Seattle voters routinely pass our school levies, despite the need of a supermajority. Through their passage, we show a willingness to direct additional funds into our schools. If not for the levy lid, we would likely provide even more to ensure the best education possible for our kids.

Now, there are differences in the proportion of state property taxes returned to each school district. In a district that is property poor or where the voters are unwilling to support their own schools, the end result is less money to support the educational needs of students in Seattle public schools.

Like many districts, our schools are faced with challenges — we have many low-income families whose students receive free and reduced lunches, students with learning disabilities, and a widening achievement gap our teachers are working hard to close. From my perspective, our state funding formula does not fully address these needs. Our teachers also need cost of living and salary adjustments in light of living in an urban area such as Seattle.

A state is only as strong as the education its children receive. While the Legislature is significantly increasing K-12 funding this year and putting into place a comprehensive review to recommend a new basic education definition, more needs to done. A simple majority for school levies is only part of the school funding mechanism. I am committed to making sure that public schools, including the ones in Seattle, have adequate resources. I will fight to make sure that the Legislature follows through with the appropriate funding levels in future sessions. Our students deserve nothing less.

Phasing in All-Day Kindergarten

Children begin learning about the world as soon as soon as they are born. They don’t wait until grade school — and we shouldn’t wait on them. Investing in early childhood education pays dividends throughout life.

This is why I support the recommendations of the Washington Learns comprehensive education study, including promoting all-day kindergarten programs. Currently, local school districts are allowed to offer full-day kindergarten, but the state does not fund it.  Senate Bill 5841 would phase in an all-day kindergarten program for children in public schools, starting with funding for those districts with the highest poverty levels. The bill also creates a way to share ideas from the best all-day kindergarten programs to help other programs.

The same bill implements several other valuable education initiatives, including additional early-childhood programs, improved English as a Second Language projects, and support for after-school programs. SB 5841 has passed both the Senate and the House, but in slightly different versions, so now we must reconcile and pass a final version.

Climate Change

Washington has been a national leader in responding to climate change. In recent years we have made Washington the first state to mandate environmentally responsible building requirements, promoted the use of energy-efficient appliances, and required the use and production of renewable fuels and energy. But we must do more.

This year, we offered legislation to curtail the greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global climate change. SB 6001 will roll back Washington’s emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.  It establishes a rigorous greenhouse gas performance standard for new natural gas and coal plants, as well as for utilities’ power purchases. It offers utilities incentives to invest in cost-effective conservation and energy-efficiency technologies, and lends utilities a hand by authorizing them to spend money for emission mitigation. SB 6001 has passed both the Senate and the House. It now goes to the governor for consideration.

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