1. WSSDA’s 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar April 1, 2016 1

2. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Welcome to the Webinar! Logistics – Chat Box & Questions – Phones on mute – Sharing Introductions – WSSDA Staff Jessica Vavrus, Gov’t Relations Director, j.vavrus@wssda.orgj.vavrus@wssda.org Tricia Kimbrough, Legislative Coordinator, t.kimbrough@wssda.orgt.kimbrough@wssda.org – WSSDA Legislative Committee Members Tony Ghazel, Chair, DA 1, Orcas Island Martha Rice, Member, DA 8, Yakima Carolynn Perkins, Member, DA 4, Bremerton 2

3. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Our Goals Today Participants will learn about: WSSDA’s year-long cycle for legislative advocacy – The role of WSSDA’s Legislative Assembly to define 2017 priorities The Foundations: WSSDA’s Current Legislative Priorities and Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs) How to get involved, who should attend, & ways to engage your colleagues – How to submit a proposal – Member testimonials and advice Key dates and next steps 3

4. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 The Process 4 STEP 1 April - May: Proposals Submitted STEP 2 June - July: Proposals Refined and Finalized STEP 3 September: Legislative Assembly - Priorities Ranked STEP 4 Oct/Nov: Priorities Finalized and Approved STEP 5 Jan. - April: Legislative Session WSSDA’s Legislative Assembly is a key event that shapes WSSDA’s annual Legislative Priorities. WSSDA’s Legislative Committee solicits input from all Washington school boards on issues affecting public education. The Legislative Assembly then acts on these proposals and creates a comprehensive legislative agenda for the coming Legislative Session.

5. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 The Foundations: WSSDA Priorities & positions http://wssda.org/Legislative/OurPrioritiesPositions.aspx http://wssda.org/Legislative/OurPrioritiesPositions.aspx WSSDA Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs) – Reviewed and confirmed annually Annual Legislative Priority Rankings – Discussed and voted on at Legislative Assembly Legislative Priority Summary – 1-page culminating document generated from Priority Rankings 5

6. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 2016 Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs) Background SLPs are proposals that have been adopted by the Legislative Assembly three times with no substantive changes – They are adopted as an SLP in the fourth year. After achieving SLP status, they are no longer voted on every year and they remain part of WSSDAs ongoing legislative agenda unless they are eliminated. SLPs amended by a majority of the Assembly maintain their SLP status. 6

7. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 2016 Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs) Categories & Number of Positions: Budget and Finance (24) School Operations (11) Governance (7) Early Learning and Higher Education (2) Personnel and Contracts (14) State Government and Tax Policy (1) 7

8. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 2015 Legislative Assembly Ranking 168 school leaders representing 82 districts attended 39 new positions approved The 2015 Legislative Assembly – added nine – amended six – eliminated seven. Districts in attendance voted for their top 10 legislative priorities. Results of the vote were considered by the Legislative Committee in October, and a “short list” of top priorities for 2016 was adopted by the Board of Directors in November. 2015 Priority Rankings (Adopted in Sept. 2015 for 2016 Legislative Session) 8

9. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Top 15 Legislative Priorities from 2015 Legislative Assembly Simple Majority for Bonds In November General Elections 7.1.12 Full Funding of Basic Education Statewide Bargaining for Salaries and Healthcare Professional Development is a Critical Component of Basic Education Changing School Bond Approval Requirements 7.1.16 School Construction Levy Equalization Funding and Formula Attract and Retain High Quality Staff in Hard-to-staff Schools Social-emotional and Behavioral Support for Students Accountability through Local Governance Professional Development Fully Fund Facilities for Mandated Class Size Reduction Student Sex Offenders in the Classroom 7.1.2 MSOC Funding 2015 Priority Rankings (Adopted in Sept. 2015 for 2016 Legislative Session) 9

10. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 2016 Legislative Priority Summary Learning Space for Every Student – Simple majority approval of school construction bonds in November general elections – State support for the actual costs of school construction – Changes to the Growth Management Act so districts can build schools outside of Urban Growth Areas (school siting). Ample and Dependable Funding – Full funding for Basic Education must be dependable, uniform across the state, and adjusted for inflation – Levy reform must include long safe-harbor periods so districts are not harmed financially during the shift away from local funding for Basic Education. – Robust levy equalization is required to mitigate huge differences in local taxing capacity to assure equity for our students, wherever they live. Great Teachers in Every Classroom – Professional development is a critical component of Basic Education. – State-bargained and state-funded salaries which recognize regional differences and the needs of hard-to- staff schools will enable all districts to attract and retain highly qualified staff. 10

11. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Get Involved: Do the Research Review WSSDA’s Priorities and Positions - Check out WSSDA’s Standing Legislative Positions and 2016 Legislative Priorities first. – http://wssda.org/Legislative/OurPrioritiesPositions.aspx http://wssda.org/Legislative/OurPrioritiesPositions.aspx – If the topic of your proposal is already included among the SLPs, do not submit another proposal that replicates it. Establish the top priorities your Board cares about – Visit with your board and other boards in your Director Area – Sometimes more than one district has a similar issue they wish to address with a legislative proposal so it is not uncommon for districts to come together in submitting a collaborative proposal. 11

12. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Get Involved: Submit a Proposal Proposal Submission – Questions to Consider – Be prepared to address the following: What is the topic or issue the proposal addresses? Which existing WSSDA Legislative Priorities or SLPs does the issue pertain to? (if applicable) – Is this a new issue or an update to an existing WSSDA position? What position should WSSDA take? (support/oppose) Why is the issue important to WSSDA? Impact on student learning? Affect on local control or accountability? What resources, funding, or capacity is necessary to implement the proposal? Consequences if the issue is not addressed? Additional information necessary for the Legislative Committee – Be sure to begin the process of review and/or approval with your board and any others involved 12

13. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Get Involved: Submit a Proposal Proposal Submission – Review and Refinement – WSSDA staff and the Legislative Committee will review all proposals and synthesize for the Assembly (June and July) Proposers are contacted with questions and will have an opportunity to review the final wording of the proposal Legislative Committee issues a recommendation (Do Pass or Do Not Pass) for each proposal to be considered All proposals are compiled into the Legislative Assembly Guide for all participants to reference at the Assembly 13

14. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Get Involved: Participate in the Assembly Attend the Assembly! – Identify at least one representative from your board to represent your district. – Program Overview Presentation topics Time to review and learn about proposals – Proposal Vetting and Review Process Debate Process Voting Process – One vote per district – Weighted votes possible based on district student population 14 Resources: Procedures Relating to the Association's Legislative Advocacy Program Procedures Relating to the Association's Legislative Advocacy Program

15. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Who Should Attend? All school directors are encouraged to attend the Legislative Assembly. – Each board should at least identify ONE representative to attend who can advocate for the board’s priorities District staff are also invited to attend, although only school directors may address the assembly and only one director per district may vote on each issue. While legislative representatives from each district normally serve as delegates to the assembly, voting credentials may be shared among attending directors at each board’s discretion. 15

16. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 2016 Legislative Assembly Testimonials – Why is district participation important? Tony Ghazel Carolynn Perkins Martha Rice 16

17. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Key Dates April 15 – Proposal solicitation begins May 16 – Deadline for proposal submissions June 6 – Registration for 2016 Legislative Assembly and lodging at the Davenport Hotel opens September 23 & 24 – 2016 Legislative Assembly, Spokane 17

18. 2016 Legislative Assembly Informational Webinar, 4/1/16 Next Steps Proposal Submission & Refinement Contact WSSDA’s Legislative Committee members and staff to assist – Legislative Committee member Legislative Committee member – WSSDA Staff: Jessica Vavrus or Tricia Kimbrough – You can also check the “I need help” box on your proposal submission form and we will call you. Assembly Registration & Participation Sept. 23-24, Spokane Davenport Hotel 18

19. 2016 Legislative Assembly QUESTIONS? 19

20. 2016 Legislative Assembly THANK YOU! See you in Spokane! 20