The first week of the 2015 special legislative session has concluded with very little activity from the Legislature. Senate and House fiscal committees met this week to hear a handful of budget-related bills, and in the House Appropriations Committee, a work session on the various revenue proposals was conducted. Appropriations Committee Chairman Rep. Ross Hunter has proposed a new levy reform idea, which was also discussed in committee. Although budget and transportation negotiations are ongoing, it doesn’t appear much progress is being made to resolve issues related to the operating budget. A final budget must be negotiated and signed by June 30 to avoid a partial government shutdown. There is some speculation at the Capitol that budget negotiators are waiting for the June revenue forecast to get down to heavy-duty negotiating.
Since many of WSCA’s priority issues this session are tied to the budget, they are still being reviewed and discussed by lawmakers during the special session. Funding for additional middle school counselors is included in both proposed budgets, as well as money for the social/emotional learning task force at OSPI. And important legislation to streamline high school assessments (HB 2214) and implement a framework for High School and Beyond Plans also remains in play.
So, HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Now is an excellent time to reach out to your state legislators and talk to them about these important issues. Although some are in Olympia discussing budget details, many of them are back home in the district. Reach out – ask to meet for coffee or invite them to school events. Set up time to talk with them in their district office. Let them know how important these issues are to you as a school counselor and urge them to keep our priorities in mind when they return to Olympia to cast a vote on a final budget. Ask them to:
- Support funding for additional counselors at all levels of education;
- Vote YES on SHB 2214 to streamline assessments and provide a framework for HSBPs;
- Support funding for social/emotional learning work to better equip counselors and others to work with students who have high Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES);
- Support funds for “Breakfast After the Bell,” because hungry students can’t learn;
- Support raising revenue to fully fund education and meet our state’s McCleary obligation.
If you don’t know your legislators or how to reach them, the legislative website can help. Now is the best time to let them know how the bills and budgets being discussed in Olympia will affect the schools they represent at home.
WSCA Special Session Report
May 1, 2015
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