2007 Legislature...

Teachers take on NCLB

Stories by RICH WOOD
WEA Communications

When WEA members Idalia Apodaca (pictured to the left) and Suzanne Mayer visited Olympia last month, they testified about ESEA, or the so-called No Child Left Behind Act. The Legislature is considering a resolution urging Congress and President Bush to fix and fully fund the act, which is up for reauthorization this year.

"You have the opportunity to use this legislation to send a message to Congress this year about education reform," Apodaca told the House Education Committee.

Apodaca teaches English language learner students in Spokane, and Mayer teaches middle school in the Highline School District.

State budget plans fund WEA priorities, but fall short of true needs

WEA members have made it clear to leaders in Olympia: Our top legislative priorities are new funding for smaller class sizes, all-day kindergarten and educator compensation.

Budget proposals from the governor and education leaders in the state House invest in those priorities, but their plans don't go far enough, WEA President Charles Hasse said.

He said WEA members are encouraged by the progress and will continue to work with House budget writers to make needed investments in public schools as the budget process continues.

The full House budget is expected in mid-March. A Senate budget proposal will follow that. Gov. Chris Gregoire released her budget in December. The final state budget will be a combination of those proposals.

Additional budget proposals are expected to be released later this month. The Legislature is scheduled to adjourn April 22.

ESP issues are crucial

A squad of WEA members from the Olympia area visited with their local legislators on Presidents' Day. They advocated for smaller class sizes, all-day kindergarten and improved compensation for certificated employees and education support professionals.

"I'm interested in learning more and getting more involved," said Cindy Roaf (pictured to the left), Shelton ESP president.

Roaf said she was particularly distressed by plans to eliminate pension gainsharing and asked her legislators to oppose those efforts.

Care about class sizes? Here's how you can get involved

Legislators in Olympia fund our salaries and class sizes, and they make key decisions about the WASL. Their votes in the Legislature directly affect our work and our students.

"There is no aspect of our jobs that isn't governed by politicians," says Stephanie Wright, an Auburn elementary school teacher.

Wright serves on the WEA Political Action Committee Board. WEA-PAC, funded primarily by contributions from WEA members, is the group that recommends and contributes to candidates for public office.

Not every WEA member can take the time to lobby their legislators in the Capitol. But all WEA members can help elect pro-public education candidates.

Wright and other WEA-PAC Board members recently set an ambitious goal that supports WEA's Take the lead campaign to increase school funding. The goal: 25,000 WEA-PAC members by the end of next year.

Joining WEA-PAC is easy. Beginning in September, all WEA members can contribute simply by filling out a short form. A minimum contribution of $2.25 will be deducted from your paycheck each month. Thousands of WEA members joined WEA-PAC during a recent trial run in 10 local associations.

Wright said that by joining WEA-PAC, educators can help win the smaller class sizes and other improvements that students need.

Meet Jason Ramirez: Math instructor, WEA member and lobbyist

Recent California transplant Jason Ramirez (pictured to the left) is a tenured math instrucor at Highline Community College. He's also a proud WEA member and a member- lobbyist.

Ramirez recently joined hundreds of other community and technical college faculty in Olympia for the annual Higher Ed Lobby Day. They met with local legislators and advocated for better faculty pay and adequate funding.

"I learned quite a lot," Ramirez said. "And I realize the importance of unions regarding pay."

WEA fights for pension issues in Olympia

Compensation, including pensions, has long been WEA's No. 1 priority, as determined by its members.

For economic reasons, lawmakers in Olympia have proposed the repeal of pension gainsharing, which potentially would reduce the future pensions of WEA members in retirement Plans 1 and 3.

WEA opposes the repeal of gainsharing unless the Legislature offers a commensurate improvement in retirement benefits in return.

WEA is working with lawmakers on proposals that would allow educators to retire earlier, such as the Rule of 85. You can contact your legislators by calling the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000 or online.

Reach WEA Editor Linda Woo at lwoo@WashingtonEA.org, via postal mail at WEA, PO Box 9100, Federal Way, WA 98063-9100; phone 253-765-7027 (or toll-free outside Seattle-Tacoma: 800-622-3393 ext. 7027); or fax 253-946-7612. We welcome story ideas, letters to the editor and suggestions for improving WE-Washington Education, or WEA Online.