AWSP Stands Opposed to Initiative I-1033

Ballot measure is a 'losing proposition for schools,' says AWSP president

OLYMPIA–"No on Initiative 1033." That’s the official position of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), whose board of directors unanimously passed a motion to oppose the measure appearing on this November’s general election ballot.

If passed, I-1033 would restrict the annual growth of state, city and county general fund revenue that supports critical services, including K-12 education. The ballot measure, which would impose government spending limits based on current recession-level budgets and a rigid population-plus-inflation formula, threatens to significantly decrease the state’s capacity to fund public schools, as well as social services, health care and natural resource programs. According to estimates from the Office of Financial Management, I-1033 would reduce state general fund revenue supporting these programs by $5.9 billion by 2015.

“As principals, we see just how devastating this recession has been to our students and their families, both inside and outside the classroom. This measure would paralyze the state’s ability—and our schools’ ability—to recover from this downward economy,” says Phil Brockman, principal of Ballard High School in Seattle and president of AWSP. 

“This is a losing proposition for our schools, which are already struggling to mitigate the effects of deep state budget cuts. I-1033 would lock in these cuts and make a bad situation worse—and permanent,” adds Brockman.

Capping state revenue is no way to strengthen schools or improve student achievement, according to AWSP Executive Director Gary Kipp.

“This ballot measure, if passed, will deliver a blow that will be felt by schools throughout the state,” says Kipp. “The progress we’ve made toward raising student achievement will be stunted by more cuts to the state general fund. In the end, it is our students who will suffer the consequences of I-1033.”

I-1033 has been compared to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) measure that passed in Colorado in 1992. Under the TABOR formula, Colorado dropped to 49th in the nation in education funding. The state’s ranking for high school graduation rates and teacher salaries also took a nosedive. In 2005, Coloradans voted to suspend the law.

About the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP)
The Association of Washington School Principals is a professional association serving principals, assistant principals and principals in training. Formed in 1972, the Association now includes more than 3,400 members from public and private elementary, middle and high schools statewide. It is governed by a board of practicing principals composed of members drawn from three grade-specific boards representing the elementary, middle and high school levels. The mission of AWSP is to support principals and assistant principals and the principalship in the education of all students. For more information on the Association, visit the AWSP Web site at www.awsp.org.

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