9-22-2010 Update from Melissa Gombosky

9-22-2010 Update from Melissa Gombosky

Legislators focus on the November elections prevents much policy work from getting done in the fall months. At this point the results of those elections are anyone’s guess. The Democrats hold large majorities in both the House and Senate but the state and national mood of the electorate threatens those majorities. Most political observers agree that the Democrats will lose 3 to 4 seats in the Senate and 6 to 7 in the House. Given that Democrats traditionally advocate for greater spending on education the likelihood of additional revenue for education FTE’s diminishes. WSCA members should prepare themselves for cuts in education budgets. The Governor has ordered a 6.3% cut across the board in state agencies and decisions about the implementation of those cuts are still being made.

I met with Greg Williamson from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. This was my second meeting with Greg. He provided me with an overview of Superintendant Dorn’s agenda for the legislative session and a summary of who does what inside of OSPI. He encouraged me to meet with Ken Knickenberg who is the OSPI chief of staff. I’ll do that soon. OSPI is planning for the next session, preparing for cuts to their agency, and doing the subcommittee work directed by last year’s legislature. He encouraged me and WSCA leadership to develop relationships with representatives from other stakeholder groups such as the Association of Washington Principals, Parent Teacher Association, and Public School Employees. They all have lobbyists who meet regularly and work on education advocacy. Those groups will meet once the session gets underway.

I attended the last meeting of the Quality Education Council. You can see the agenda of the group here: http://www.k12.wa.us/qec. Superintendent Dorn chairs the meeting and will take recommendations regarding funding and policy back to the legislature in January.

Kim Reykdal, Jenny Morgan, and I met last week to plan for the WSCA day on the Capital Campus. It will be scheduled during National Counselor’s Week and we selected a tentative date of Feb 3. We also need to get a copy of the Federal Resolution that honors the work of school counselors. I will find sponsors for those resolutions in both chambers and have them read on the floors on February 1. Kim will take the lead and work to encourage WSCA member attendance on that day. We will meet again in October to do further planning for the government relations committee.

Legislative Assembly Days are scheduled for December 9 and 10 and we will schedule as many member meetings as possible. I have asked both Kim and Richard to attend. I have also had meetings with Rep Van De Wege, Liias, Simpson, and Dammier as well as Senators Marr and Hatfield and let them know WSCA hopes to engage in a more meaningful way this next session. The Sen McAuliff meeting is being rescheduled. We will target legislators assigned to education committees during Assembly days when Kim and Richard can talk about specific WSCA issues and concerns.

Melissa

Melissa McCabe Gombosky

Gombosky Public Affairs

2312 Wedgewood Dr SE

Olympia, WA 98501

360.878.0783