How to Pass Legislation: A Real Case Study

Who We Are... Neal Kirby Centralia Russ Pfeiffer-Hoyt Mount Baker Lee Anne Riddle Ferndale

What We Did Worked with many others to PASS legislation reinstating Basic Education money to 83 districts who receive Federal Forest Apportionment funds.

How We Did It… Great relationships Clear messaging Good timing Pit bull-like tenacity

Today we will talk about… How this started Federal Forest Apportionment background Who helped Steps taken Results at end of 2014 Legislative Session Next steps…because we aren’t finished! Plus, give you a chance to apply this to your own district.

How This Started In June of 2012, Whatcom County Directors and Superintendents from all 7 districts invited our senators and representatives to an all-county meeting. And most of them attended!

At the Meeting After hearing about our successes and our challenges, Senator Doug Ericksen offered to work with us to write legislation that would help school districts in the process of educating our students. We couldn’t pass up this offer!

Picking the Right Issue for Senator Ericksen With advice from Marie Sullivan, we settled on an issue that Russ knew a lot about and that Marie thought Senator Ericksen could get behind.

Federal Forest Apportionment Sources of the funds: 1906 and 1908 through the Agriculture Appropriations Act 2000 through the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

Purpose of the Funds Received in place of property taxes that cannot be collected from federal lands Similar to Impact Aid paid for military bases, federal dam sites, and reservations

In Washington Basic Education funding is deducted $ for $ equal to the Federal Forest Apportionment districts receive

This Happens to over 200 Districts Federal Forest Apportionment dollars come in Exact same amount of Basic Education dollars deducted

What that Looks Like for Some Districts Mount Baker$32,494 Ferndale$89,960 Centralia$322,795 Castle Rock$5,987 Kittitas$44,926 Port Angeles$205,628 Ellensburg$211,336 Wenatchee$462,652

In 2014…. $8.3 Million

Another Negative Consequence Besides less money for the children in our districts, it also reduces our levy base which reduces how much money we can ask for from our voters.

What Educational Issues are Important to You and Your District?

Key Partners Rep. Kathy Haigh “This is a common-sense reform that reflects our common values.” timber-communities-and-schools/

Bill Sponsors SB 5986: Ericksen, Braun, King, Honeyford, Bailey, Parlette HB 2207: Haigh, Orcutt, Haler, Tharinger, Blake, Short, Van De Wege, Fagan, Magendanz, and Buys

More Key Partners WSSDA, including Marie Sullivan and Will Clark WSSDA Trust Land Task Force Whatcom County board members and supts Leg reps and sups from around the state WSSDA Board of Directors And even Lee Anne’s book group and Face Book friends

Who are Your Key Partners?

Clear Messaging This money comes from the federal government to districts for a specific reason It is the first mitigation money passed by congress to lessen the impact on communities from a federal environmental decision Deduction of Basic Education funds by the state is wrong These are critical funds for some of our poorest communities Changing this practice is one way for our legislators to show intent to comply with the McCleary decision

A Roller Coaster Ride

Timing is Everything

Many Actions And Repeat!

And This…

And This…

Ripple Effect It is so important to connect and reconnect with others to spread your message.

How will you connect with others?

Final Days House 97 to 0 Senate 47 to 2

Ta Da!!!!!

Our Results $6.3 Million $8.3 Million

$2 Million Remained in 83 schools districts with 57% or more free and reduced lunch rates Capped at $70,000

Our Next Steps Go back to our legislators and finish what we started: Remove F&R % limit Remove $70,000 cap We need your help!!!!!

We Will Do It With… Great relationships Clear messaging Good timing Pit bull-like tenacity

What are Your Next Steps? You can do this! We did!

Thank you to…. WSSDA Marie Sullivan Will Clark Doug Ericksen Kathy Haigh All the folks who wrote letters, sent s, made phone calls and drove to Olympia

Our Contact Information Neal Kirby Russ Lee Anne