May 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, What a year it has been! This month, members of our board of directors end their terms. This incredible group of dedicated volunteers has led us through some of the most challenging years that Washington State PTA has experienced. I know that many of them look forward to well-earned vacations and the chance…
Category:
Leadership
2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 26 Report
And … that’s a wrap! Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature is expected to adjourn “sine die” April 25 by midnight. Over the past week, there was a lot of action, including the release of the compromise, agreed-to two-year operating, capital, and transportation budgets. Once released from a conference committee, the…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA hosts “back to school” webinar with OSPI, DOH, and Governor’s office
State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, Deputy Secretary for COVID Response Lacy Fehrenbach, and Governor’s K12 Policy Advisor Maddy Thompson joined WSPTA members April 22 to discuss school under COVID, including what the current situation is and what to expect for next fall. Listen to the 90-minute webinar here.
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 19 Report
All that’s left is for the lady to sing… Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Only one week remains in the 67th legislative session, and there is actually a lot that’s left to do before that famous lady sings the final song: budgets, the climate commitment act, a capital gains tax, and a…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 12 Report
Act Now: write your legislators and preserve K-12 funding Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org This is the week that budget negotiators will begin working what is called the “differences list,” which is exactly what it sounds like – a list of differences between the House and Senate budget proposals. Negotiators will start…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
WSPTA Shares Information on Digital Equity and Budget Priorities with the Legislature
Washington State PTA President Janice Kutzera and Advocacy Director Sherry Rudolph sent two timely letters to legislators this past weekend. The first letter was sent to members in the State Senate asking them to pass ESHB 1336 regarding digital equity. Read the full letter here. The second letter was sent to members of the Senate…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
April 2021 – Executive Director Message
Dear Members, Spring is the busiest time of the year for the Washington State PTA staff. We are deep into our planning for the annual convention, our biggest event of the year. We also are busy preparing for the leadership transition as volunteer leaders complete their terms, wrap up their records, and prepare their successors.…
Category:
Leadership
WSPTA tells Senate budget committee to “get the lead out”
Speaking in favor of ESHB 1139 (acting on lead in drinking water), Gwen Loosmore encouraged members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to pass the bill out of committee before the cutoff and to provide the funding necessary to help school districts replace fixtures with lead contamination. Hear Gwen’s testimony here. In addition, thanks…
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Advocacy
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Legislative
2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 5 Report
Tell legislators to preserve K-12 funding this session Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Now that both chambers have released and passed their versions of a two-year operating budget, here are some suggestions of where to spend your advocacy efforts – please tell your legislators and budget writers to: Fund the actual costs…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative
House School Seismic Safety Retrofit Gets Praise
Registered professional engineer and WSPTA parent advocate DaleAnn Baker thanked House Capital Budget Committee members for their $65 million investment in the school seismic safety retrofit program. The Senate was not as generous, with a proposal of only $3.1 million. Seismic safety is one element of the legislative platform adopted last fall by members at…
Category:
Advocacy
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Legislative