1. 2017 WSSDA Legislative Out Brief

2. WSSDA 2017 Legislative Assembly by the numbers!
295 School Districts
1477 School Board Directors
95 Districts were represented; which is a 5% increase
Director Area 4 (ESD 114) – 9 of 15 Districts represented
We are the largest employer in the State; with over 120,000 employees.
Advocate for 1.1 million students

3. Day One
Innovative School Tour – North Central Institute for Science & Tech, Spokane Public Schools, & Bemiss Elementary
Pre-Assembly Program
New to the Assembly
Local Legislators – Senator Billing (EFTF), & Representative McCaslin
Federal Relations Network
A look ahead to the 2017 Legislative Session (WSSDA Legislative Advocacy, Resources, & Partnerships) - Jessica Vavrus

4. Hot Topics
Education Funding issues: Compensation, Construction, Levies and more – Panel from WASA, WSBO, WSSDA
Overview and thoughts on understanding all things McCleary and the current realities that school districts are facing
Funding School Construction: Common School Trust Lands
(what are they? Why should be care?)
Lisa Anderson DNR & Russ Pfeifer-Holt (WSSDA TLTF Chair)

5. Town Hall Conversations & WSSDA Board Candidates
Commissioner of Public Lands - Hilary Frantz & Steve McLaughlin
Superintendent of Public Instruction - Erin Jones & Chris Reykdal
President Elect Candidate - Marnie Maraldo (Issaquah)
VPresident Candidates – Aurora Flores (Manson) & Susan Weed (Pullman)
Voting is currently open through 14 Oct – should have received a link by to vote online.
Their Bio’s and the Questions with video is available on the WSSDA web site at (

6. Caucus WSSDA Equity and Access Region 4 area (ESD 114)
Trust Lands Task Force

7. Action on Legislative Proposals
62 proposals (4 areas) – Learning, Teaching, Governance, Funding and Allocations (State funding, apportionment, and Levies)
3 were up for review for retention – they were voted for elimination.
4 new proposals were voted to not approve.
4 were amended with word changes.

8. Learning & Funding
1 Washington State Learning Standards Funding - WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation to ensure the state fully funds the transition, implementation and execution of new assessments required by Washington State Learning Standards.
24 McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act Funding
WSSDA shall initiate and /or support legislation the State fully funding school districts to cover the costs of supporting.

9. Top Ten Priorities – Sequim
3.3.3 Management of Common School Trust Lands. (This is actually a WSSDA Permanent Position that was 1st Adopted 1966; Amended 1985, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015)
2) Forest Revenue Appointment Funding
3) School Construction
4) 57 Fully Funding Facilities for Mandated Class Size
5) Full Funding of Basic Education

10. Example 7.1.20 Forest Revenue Apportionment Withholding
WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation preventing the State from withholding monies from the State’s monthly apportionment in the amount equal to state forest revenue or to the federal forest fees received by school districts from the federal government. (Adopted 2013)
Full Funding of Basic Education
WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation that fully funds and implements all aspects of Washington’s redefined program of Basic Education as outlined in ESHB (Adopted 2012)

11. Top Ten Priorities – Sequim
6) Career and Technical Education Funding 7) 24/ McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act 8) Fiscal Notes and unfunded Mandates 9) State Sales Tax Offset dedicated to a School Construction Fund 10) Changing School Bond Approval Requirements

12. 3.3.3 MANAGEMENT OF COMMON SCHOOL TRUST LANDS
The Enabling Act of 1889 creating the State of Washington establishes that these lands shall be held in perpetuity for the benefit of the common schools. WSSDA believes trust lands shall be managed to provide maximum revenue for the public common schools and:
•A sustainable revenue shall be generated from the common school trust lands;
•There shall be compensation to the common school trust from conserving, preserving, or compromising the lands’ ability to generate a fair financial return;
•The Trust shall be managed in a manner that ensures intergenerational equity;
•A diversity of assets is needed to maintain revenue sustainability;
•A dedicated fund for common school trust revenue is essential;
•The purchase or exchange of lands shall be done if it is in the best interest of the trust; and
•That trust lands shall provide multi-use purposes as long as it enhances or does not compromise revenue or value of land.
(Adopted 1966; Amended 1985, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015)

13. What’s Next
Priorities will be reviewed by the Legislative Committee end of October.
1-page Legislative Priorities for 2017 will be taken to the WSSDA Board for final approval in early November.
Expect to see that list prior to Annual Conference.
If not; we will have the document and priority list at the WSSDA Conference November in Spokane.  
All materials from the Legislative Assembly (PowerPoint presentation and Resource Guide are all posted to the WSSDA Leg. Assembly Web site (

14. Other
This presentation; including WSSDA Legislative Proposals, and the Agenda for the Legislative Assembly are also posted in our OneNote Files. Documents are available to the Public upon request.
WSSDA Legislative Conference is scheduled for the 12th & 13th February in Olympia.