The McCleary Session: What Do You Have to Lose? 2017 Legislative Session Update

Public education is a civil right! Washington Constitution: “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.” McCleary decision: State must comply with the Constitution and fully fund K-12 basic education by Sept. 1, 2018 2017 legislative session: Competing state budgets from House and Senate…

So What do You have to Lose? Student Services Money Healthcare Bargaining Rights

If the Senate Republicans win the debate and control the education budget… Simply put, We Are Toast

Senate Republican budget Limits educator salaries (max of 80%) Eliminates voter-approved COLAs (I-732) Eliminates voter-approved smaller class sizes (I-1351) Limits collective bargaining (TRI) Limits local school levies

More Senate “Values”… National Board bonuses are eliminated. Districts will be allowed to continue to fund, but it will eventually be limited to a 80% cap. Bethel presently funds at 81.9%. If this policy would exist today it would reduce staffing by 27.81 FTE. K-12 salaries for certificated instructional staff, ESPs and all other classified positions are only increased 0.5% for 2017-18 school year. Masters in Education will no longer count for salary movement unless it is specific to your teaching area. E.g. You must have a Masters in Math if you teach Math for it to count.

If TRI Is Eliminated The ability to bargain for additional TRI or supplemental pay is eliminated. This would be an average loss of $13,827 dollars for BEA members.

House Democratic budget Funds major pay raises for all K-12 employees Keeps voter-approved smaller class sizes Keeps voter-approved educator COLAs Maintains local school levy funding Protects our collective bargaining rights

However…Health Care is a Problem Health care costs are rising Neither budget increases health care funding for K-12 employees – which means we will pay more out of pocket Both budgets increase health care funding for legislators - who already get more than educators, who are already allocated less than other state employees. Many of our members are electing to sign up for high deductible plans.

What we’ve heard . . . What will the House do? The House is already talking about compromise They bargain against themselves We need to be their backbone! They need to STAND STRONG They can’t negotiate our student’s future. What will the House do?

What can We do together? Some Ideas: Public Education Lobby Days: Flood legislative offices with calls/visits on each day. Target multiple legislators each day, over a period of several days and weeks. Full Day Walk Out In Olympia: Members from all over the State meet in Olympia for a full day rally in September. Lunchtime 800-562-6000 Legislative Hotline Campaigns: During non-work time. School-based canvassing: WEA members canvass school neighborhoods with pro-funding literature, use voter/parent lists in key legislative districts. School Walk-ins: Before school, with parents and kids.    Full-page newspaper ads sponsored by WEA locals, with names of hundreds of WEA members and community members, targeting specific legislators by name. Rolling one-day walkouts-leave school after lunches so the day is counted.

Message to Legislators- Let’s Call and Email and Write Protect voter-approved smaller K-12 class sizes & COLAs Increase health care funding for educators (parity with legislators) Maintain local levy funding Protect educators’ collective bargaining rights

We need to tip the balance Summit January 2017

What YOU can do Today Post a sign in your car Go to OurVoice and email or call your legislators Text “OurVoice” to 41411 to receive real time legislative updates Visit OurVoice on Facebook: facebook.com/OurVoiceWEA/ Call the Legislative Hotline at 800-562-6000 and leave a message Be prepared for next steps, and get Angry, Agitated and Active