Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday lawmakers need to immediately start work to resolve the chronic underfunding and inequity in the state’s public school system — what he estimates is a $3 billion challenge for the state.
Inslee said he does not believe a special legislative session is necessary yet, but urged key legislators to start meeting regularly to work on a detailed plan, as ordered by the state Supreme Court.
Lawmakers recently adjourned the longest-ever legislative session in a single year.
“The court is asking for a plan, for a solution, not necessarily total implementation as of yesterday,” Inslee told reporters on Monday, shortly after he met with legislative leaders.
Last week, the court slapped the state with a $100,000-a-day fine for not complying with the so-called McCleary decision that ordered the Legislature to fully fund K-12 education. In the most recent legislative session, lawmakers funneled $1.3 billion more toward the state’s public schools. But the court deemed the Legislature’s efforts insufficient, in particular when it came to addressing local property-tax levies.
Lawmakers on a McCleary work group this session drafted Senate Bill 6130, proposing a new statewide teacher salary schedule and banning the use of local levy dollars. The measure did not pass and did not include details on how to pay for the plan. Lawmakers will host a series of talks at educational service districts across the state to discuss the legislation.
Walk for Teachers
While leaders talked, teachers walked. On Monday, Tyler Morgan, a local teacher, decided to add his voice to the growing number of those frustrated by inaction in Olympia. The Camas High School history teacher walked with two of his colleagues from Vancouver to Woodland on Monday.
Morgan, 34, plans to walk to Olympia by Sunday.
Inspired by other stories of how walks across history have inspired change, Morgan said his message is simple: prioritize education.
Morgan planned to log 22 miles on Monday with two fellow Camas High School teachers, Sam Greene and Joe Farland.
Morgan doesn’t know what will happen when he makes it to Olympia, but he believes his Walk for Teachers push could gain momentum and highlight issues public educators face.
And, one of his fellow teachers said, sometimes it’s worth leading by example.
“We believe in teaching; we can show our students it’s worth taking a little action,” Farland said.
