“Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” Nelson Mandela

“Time spent arguing is, oddly enough, almost never wasted.” Christopher Hitchens

As the Legislature approaches cut-off deadlines, action and debates are taking place in committees on the respective floors of each house as legislators act to move proposals.

A brief summary of selected bills:

Retirement Related Proposals

HB 1985: Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1.

Comment: This bill would provide an ad-hoc 3% increase in 2024, not to exceed $125/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees.

The House Committee on Appropriations has scheduled an executive session for 1/25. Rumor has it that a substitute bill may be offered that rolls the increase back to $110/month, which is identical to the bill and funding provided last session. A reminder that the $110 figure had a $44,000 pension cap; the $125 increases it to $50,000. Those figures represent a person’s income that would qualify for a property tax exemption.

HB 2013: Paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies.

Comment: This bill allows the survivor to keep the entire month’s amount regardless of when the person died.

The House Committee on Appropriations has scheduled an executive session for 1/25. Rumor has it that an alternative bill will be dropped that would address the health insurance premium due on the month of death.

HB 2481: Waiving health benefit premiums in the public employees' benefits board.

Comment: This is a late entry into Introductions. It is intended to replace HB 2013 mentioned above. It would waive, as the title suggests, the health benefit premium during the month of one’s death. It has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing

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Other Areas of Potential Fiscal Impact (and often unfunded) to Districts

Below are titles and a brief summary of proposed bills that may have potential impact to the business operations of districts.

SHB 1105: Requiring public agencies to provide notice for public comment that includes the last date by which such public comment must be submitted.

Comment: This bill mandates a public agency that is required to solicit public comment for a statutorily specified period of time and to provide notice that it is soliciting public comment, to include in the notice the last day by which written public comment may be submitted. • Makes an agency that violates the requirement to include in a notice for public comment the last day by which written comment may be submitted subject to a civil penalty of $500 for the first violation and $1000 for any subsequent violation.

It is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections on 1/30. 

HB 1905 -  Including protected classes in the Washington equal pay and opportunities act. 

Comment: Amends the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to prohibit an employer from discriminating in compensation and career advancement opportunities against similarly employed employees based on the employee's age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

This bill is scheduled for Executive Action on 1/19 in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards. Its companion, SB 5894, has not moved since its public hearing on 1/15.

HB 1927: Reducing the number of days that a worker's temporary total disability must continue to receive industrial insurance compensation for the day of an injury and the three-day period following the injury.

Comment:  It reduces the number of days – from 14 to 7 – that a temporary total disability must continue to receive workers' compensation time loss benefits for the first three days following the injury.

It is currently in House Rules and awaits movement to the floor calendar. Its companion, (SB5932) has not had any movement and is likely ‘dead’.

HB 1959: Extending parts of the paid family and medical leave program to employers with fewer than 50 employees.

Comment: This bill removes the exemption allowing employers with fewer than 50 employees to not pay any portion of the premium for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program, thereby requiring those employers to pay at least 55 percent of the medical leave share of the premium.

It is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/26.

HB 2058: Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools. 

Comment: TWIO has covered this previously. There is no fiscal note to date, although press reports that the state’s cost will be in excess of $80 million dollars. It is indeterminate what other local school district unfunded costs will be.

This bill was moved to Appropriations and is awaiting scheduling. The companion bill, (SB 5964) is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 1/29. 

HB 2127 - 2023-24: Concerning workers' compensation incentives to return to work.

Comment: Modifies certain return-to-work policies and reimbursement amounts under the workers' compensation program. • Increases the maximum amounts of reimbursements paid to employers participating in the Stay at Work Program and Preferred Worker Program by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). • Increases the maximum amount paid to qualifying employers for job modification costs by L&I.

This bill is scheduled for Executive Session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards Jan. 24^th.

SB 5059 - Concerning pre-judgment interest. 

Comment: Dan Steele has already addressed this bill and its potential for adversely affecting school district finances.

It had a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM, Jan. 15^th. No further action to date.

2SHB 1618: Concerning the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.

Comment: Again, this has been addressed in previous reports, and the potential to create economic havoc within districts remains. It removes the statute of limitations for recovery of damages as a result of childhood sexual abuse. • • Applies the act retroactively and prospectively.

The Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading waiting action on House floor. 

SB 5777 - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Comment: Deletes a provision that disqualifies employees in a multi-employer bargaining unit from unemployment insurance benefits when the employees have been locked out following a strike against the employers in the bargaining unit.

This bill has been passed to Rules awaiting movement to the Senate calendar. Its companion (HB 1893) is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/26. 

SB 5793 -  Concerning paid sick leave.

Comment: Allows an employee or transportation network company driver to use paid sick leave when their child's school or place of care is closed due to a public emergency. • Modifies the definition of family member for the purpose of using paid sick leave to include any individual who regularly resides in the employee's home or where the relationship creates an expectation the employee care for the person and that individual depends on the employee for care, except it does not include an individual who simply resides in the same home with no expectation the employee care for the individual. • • Provides that a child also includes a child's spouse. Requires the Department of Labor and Industries to develop materials and conduct outreach to inform individuals and businesses about the new provisions of the act.

It was moved out of Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce on 1/22 and assumed to go to Appropriations. Its companion, (HB 1991) scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/26.

SB 5824: Concerning the dissolution of libraries and library districts.

Comment: This bill increases the signature threshold for filing petitions to dissolve libraries or library districts from 100 taxpayers to 35 percent of eligible voters in the district. • Expands voter eligibility to allow all qualified electors of a library district to participate in a vote on propositions for library district dissolution.

It is on the second awaiting action on the floor calendar.

SB 5873 - 2023-24

Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.

Comment: This bill, subject to budget appropriations, increases funding for student transportation. Of added import is that it provides that pupil transportation services contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after September 1, 2024, must require the contractor to provide employee health and retirement benefits comparable to those received by school employees. It also states: “Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this purpose, OSPI must provide a one-time supplemental transportation allocation to school districts that experience an increase in costs to pupil transportation services contracts due to the new benefit requirements. To be eligible for the supplemental allocations, a school district must report to OSPI regarding the number of contracted employees who worked at least 630 hours performing contract services in the school year prior to entering a contract with the new benefits. Supplemental allocations may only be used as payments under pupil transportation services contracts for employee compensation and may not exceed $200 per contracted employee per month.”

This bill had a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means Committee on 1/23 and is awaiting further action.

SB 5883: Concerning the burden of proof for special education due process hearings.

Comment. This bill provides that a school district has the burden of proof when it is a party to a special education due process hearing. • Creates an exception to this burden of proof requirement in circumstances when a parent seeks reimbursement for a unilateral parental placement.

It is currently on the second reading awaiting floor action.

SB 5924 - 2023-24 Concerning access to personnel records.

Concerning access to personnel records.

Comment: Executive actions taken on 1/23 by the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce. No further movement to date.

SB 5978: Authorizing the office of the superintendent of public instruction to act as a guarantor for a county when the county provides a loan to a school district.

Comment: A public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education was held on 1/22. No further action to date.

SB 6045 - Concerning school district efficiencies and consolidation.

Comment: Self-explanatory. This is not the first time this idea of forcing efficiencies has been introduced.

It is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 1/25.

SB 6223: Updating school district director compensation.

Comment: Each member of the board of directors of a school district may receive compensation in an annual amount not to exceed the combined total of $500 per month plus 50 cents per student enrolled in the school district based on prior year actual enrollments.

It is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 1/29.

Fred Yancey
The Nexus Group LLC

AWSP is looking to add a tech-savvy, forward-thinking communications person to the team. Our work here matters, and we have plenty to go around. We are a small but mighty team with an extensive reach. We are looking for a team player and a self-starter who loves to learn formally or informally.

Position Duties: 

• This position provides leadership, guidance, and support to AWSP directors and communications, professional learning, and membership team members.
• Manages the day-to-day work, content, and updates for multiple websites.
• Assists with email communication, including outreach campaigns and marketing for professional learning events and initiatives, through our email marketing/automation system.
• Creates or assists with multimedia production, including but not limited to video production, photography, podcasting, and live webinars.
• Creates, edits, and assists with content creation for all AWSP and foundation properties.
• Manages AWSP social media accounts and posting.
• Supports the communications team and other staff with presentation materials, slides, setup, and adherence to AWSP’s style guide and brand.
• Works as a support and backup for all communications projects and platforms.

View the full job posting, or reach out if you have questions.

School Leaders,

I assume we are all very similar in various ways and different in our unique ways. One thing I believe we have in common is the emphasis placed on us during our principal preparation programs to be instructional leaders while knowing and learning there are plenty of organizational management tasks to tend to.

The responsibilities of being a school leader, principal, or assistant principal are varied and different, but all important, nonetheless. Not all that long ago, my assistant principal and I lamented that we spent too much time on school management matters and not enough time engaged in instructional leadership. We were bogged down with investigations, policies, protocols, etc. We realized we needed to know how much time in our workday was spent in each school leadership domain.

Since then, I have been studying and researching school leader time on task. Some of you may have looked into this also; there are school leader time studies, but common, consistent time studies and findings are inconsistent and inconclusive. I created the School Leaders Time Study and Reflective Response survey in response.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could complete the survey. It should only take 5-10 minutes of your time. I’m asking you to codify one complete day of your work life. You’ll code your day’s tasks into one of the criteria of the AWSP Leadership Framework, by the half-hour block for one day of your work life.

For example, this might be what my last Thursday looked like. Note: The times are not exact but rounded to the nearest half hour.

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Time Tracking

6:30 AM: Arrive to the school office. Check email. Review schedule and staff absences with the head secretary and assistant principal. Criterion 6: Managing Resources

7:00 AM: Greet students and families at the bus loop and family drop-off loop. Criterion 2: Ensuring School Safety

7:30 AM: School Day officially begins. Check-in with assistant principals and Counselors regarding student-level concerns. Criterion 2: Ensuring School Safety

8:00 AM: Main Office Team Meeting. Criterion 6: Managing Resources

8:30 AM: Plan MTSS meeting for next week. Criterion 3. Planning with Data

9:00 AM: Classroom observation: Criterion 5: Improving Instruction

9:30 AM: Discuss the management structure of the after-school programs with the supervisor. Criterion 6: Managing Resources

And the day continues.

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Why the Survey

I am asking for your help completing a brief survey, School Leaders Time Study and Reflective Response, because I want us to know how much time we spend in each school leadership domain: instructional leadership and organizational managment. I am using the AWSP Leadership Framework Criteria for each leadership domain. And I have determined that Criterion 1: Creating a Culture, Criterion 3: Planning with Data, Criterion 4: Aligning Curriculum, 5: Improving Instruction, 7: Engaging Families and Communities, and Criterion 8: Closing the Gap are aligned to our Instructional Leadership responsibilities, while Criterions 2: Ensuring Safety and 6: Managing Resources are aligned to work as Organizational Managers.

Even the Framework has more criteria centered on our Instructional Leadership, much like our principal preparation programs, which are focused on this important domain. But I wonder just how balanced or imbalanced our time is, and I wonder if there is a difference between the type and level of school we lead, and I wonder if there is a difference between our school settings, rural or urban. I have had the privilege of serving schools in both settings, and at middle and high school levels.

Ultimately, I have three goals in mind for this data and the findings of this survey School Leaders Time Study and Reflective Response.

• First and most importantly, I hope this survey and its data and findings make us as individual practitioners more aware of our time on task and priorities.
• Secondly, I hope this will impact our school districts and how they support school leaders.
• And third, I hope AWSP can use this data to further encourage the Legislature, with quantifiable data, that we need more support.

As I said earlier, another thing I believe we have in common is that we want our schools to be the best for the students that attend them. I know there are too many days that I cannot be the instructional leader I want and can be for my school. AWSP continually advocates for us; if this survey and data help them help us, that will help our schools, too.

I appreciate your participation and the leadership you provide to your students, staff, and school community each day.

Take The Survey

Thank you,

 

Kevin Rupprecht
Principal, Lt. Gen. W.H. Harrison Preparatory School
An International Baccalaureate World School

Tossing Some Ideas Around to See What Sticks

It was another busy week in the Legislature as the House and Senate Education Committees continued hearing a plethora of bills related to special education funding, new curriculum and graduation requirements, simple majority for bonds, and more. 

AWSP signed in support of the various bills that would increase funding in special education and update the health standards to include more information, resources, and instruction related to fentanyl. But, similar to the State Board of Education and the WEA, we shared the message that for the bills related to computer science, financial literacy, agricultural literacy, and Holocaust and genocide education, we would rather see a comprehensive look at the graduation requirements in order to strategically envision potential changes for future students. 

The conversation about education funding continues in various ways, and advocates are working hard to explain to lawmakers how inadequate the current funding model is for the actual needs of students in schools. One example of advocacy in action is a letter that a group of school board and education association presidents sent to legislators urging them to distribute at least 44% of the state surplus to public schools (this is the current percentage of the state budget that goes to public education). In the long term, the group urges legislators to implement a task force to update and revise the prototypical founding model. 

We continue to ask legislators to include two specific budget asks that our partners at OSPI included as a decision package request to Governor Inslee. The Governor did not include these requests in his budget, so we are asking legislators to include them in the final supplemental budget.

Our first request is an enhancement to our state’s principal internship program. Currently, funding is available to cover only 8-10 substitute days for interns receiving this grant. This is not sufficient preparation. We are asking for an additional one million dollars so grant recipients can have at least 25-30 days covered. 

The second item is for $860,000, which allows OSPI to partner with us and provides more secure funding and support for associate director positions. These positions support principal professional learning, respond to member support calls, and provide coaching. They also support ongoing work related to instruction, evaluation, behavior, mental health, and more.

As a member of the School Funding Coalition, we continue to work alongside other statewide associations, like WASA and WSSDA, to urge legislators to update the prototypical funding model for principals and other staff. We thank Representative Alicia Rule for sponsoring HB 2212, which would update the ratio for building administrators, and we are now working to get the bill a hearing in House Appropriations.

We are also working to pass SB 5085 . This bill would update 28A.405.245 related to employment provisions. Our goal is to add assistant principals and require that specific evaluation criteria be used if principals or assistant principals are being moved to a subordinate position. We also want to ensure that all years of experience in education count, no matter the role (teacher or administrator). We do not see this RCW connected to moving staff to subordinate positions due to enrollment or funding declines, which, unfortunately still may have to occur in districts. A striking amendment is ready to go to the Senate for a vote on this bill soon.

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Bills this Week

Here are the bills that were heard in the House and Senate Education Committees this week. I also have been tracking a few bills in the Higher Education and Healthcare Committees.

House Education

Monday

• HB 1915 | Making financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education. 
• HB 1935 | Promoting resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools. 
• HB 2282 | Identifying African American studies curricula for students in grades 7-12.
• HB 1843 | Modifying school district elections. 
• HJR 4207 | Amending the Constitution to allow 55 percent of voters voting to authorize school district bonds. 

Tuesday

• HB 1879 | Naming the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš). 
• HB 2005 | Including weighted grade point averages on high school transcripts. 
• HB 2110 | Reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation. 
• HB 2267 | Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies. 
• HB 2236 | Expanding and strengthening career and technical education core plus programs. 

Thursday

• HB 1956 | Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education. 

Senate Education

Monday

• SB 5852 | Concerning special education safety net awards.
• SB 5883 | Concerning the burden of proof for special education due process hearings. 
• SJM 8007 | Requesting Congress to fully fund 40 percent of the costs of IDEA. 
• SB 6014 | Increasing the special education enrollment funding cap.
• SB 5956 | Concerning the maximum per-pupil limit for enrichment levies. 

Wednesday

• SB 5813 | Mandating instruction on agricultural literacy for students in grades 7-12.
• SB 5819 | Making financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education. 
• SB 5849 | Concerning a computer science competency graduation requirement. 
• SB 5851 | Concerning Holocaust and genocide education in public schools. 

Thursday

• SB 5870 | Expanding and streamlining eligibility for early learning programs. 
• SB 5933 | Concerning funding for the early support for infants and toddlers program. 
• SB 5941 | Clarifying requirements for subsidized child care. 
• SB 6018 | Designating early learning coordinators at educational service districts. 

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Next Week’s Bills

House Education

Monday

• HB 1228 - Building a multilingual, multiliterate Washington through dual and tribal language education. 
• HB 1239 - Establishing a simple and uniform system for complaints related to, and instituting a code of educator ethics for conduct within or involving public elementary and secondary schools. 
• E2SHB 1565 - Supporting and strengthening the professional education workforce. 
• HB 2335 - Concerning state-tribal education compacts.
• HB 2381 - Increasing eligibility for economy and efficiency flexible school calendar waivers. 

Tuesday

• HB 2331 - Modifying requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials. 
• HB 2398 - Requiring parent representation on instructional materials committees. 
• HB 2037 - Concerning Holocaust and genocide education in public schools. 
• HB 2018 - Improving student outcomes by restricting mobile device use by public school students. 
• HB 1922 - Establishing a grant program for the purchase and installation of vape detectors in public schools.

Thursday

• HB 2130 - Extending special education services. 
• HB 2239 - Supporting student well-being through instruction in social-emotional skills. 

Senate Education

Monday

• SB 5969 - Adjusting school districts' authority to contract indebtedness for school construction. 
• SB 5978 - Authorizing the office of the superintendent of public instruction to act as a guarantor for a county when the county provides a loan to a school district.
• SB 5903 - Concerning representation in the educator preparation act. 
• SB 6012 - Helping approved teacher preparation programs respond to the continuously changing needs of the modern classroom.
• SB 5966 - Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.

Wednesday

• SB 6082 - Increasing compensation for Washington paraeducators.
• SB 6123 - Adjusting classified school employee salaries.
• SB 6208 - Modifying requirements for public school instructional and supplemental instructional materials.
• SB 6216 - Establishing a statewide network for student mental and behavioral health.
• SB 6236 - Filing a declaration of intent to provide home-based instruction.

Thursday

• SB 6031 - Modifying the student transportation allocation to accommodate multiple vehicle types for transporting students.
• SB 6205 - Mandating instruction on the meaning and history of the pledge of allegiance in public schools. 
• SB 6045 - Concerning school district efficiencies and consolidation.
• SB 6264 - Supporting the implementation of competency-based education.

As you can see from the list of bills, there is no shortage of ideas being considered next week. It will be the last big week for new bills to be heard, as January 31 is the cut-off date by which policy bills must pass out of committees. 

Below are additional links to find out more about these bills and to contact your own legislators. Legislators care very much about hearing directly from their constituents. When we weigh in as an association, it is helpful and important, but having many of you reach out directly with a short email to legislators can be much more powerful. Find your legislator and email them here if you have any thoughts to share. 

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Important Links:

• Washington State Legislature
• Bill Search
• Find Your Legislators
• Email Your Legislators

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Other Advocacy Efforts

Day on the Hill

Many of our Advocacy Advisory Council and AWSP Board Members are planning a visit to Olympia on February 5 for our annual “Day on the Hill." They will be meeting with their own legislators and perhaps attending some committee hearings. You can get involved by scheduling a virtual meeting with your own legislators that week. See the links shared above to find your district legislators and their email addresses.

Here is my complete bill tracking list for this week.

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Get Involved

Many thanks for all that you do for students and staff. Please reach out if you have questions or comments. Thank you!

“If you see a snake, just kill it - don’t appoint a committee on snakes.”
Ross Perot

The Session continues. Introductions of new bills and committee hearings continue as legislators work to deal with proposed bills. A reminder that if a companion bill appears to not be moving, that means the other bill will be the prime for action.

A brief summary of selected bills:

Retirement Related Proposals

HB 1985: Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1.

By Request: Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP)

Comment: This bill would provide an ad-hoc 3% increase in 2024, not to exceed $125/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees. This is an increase in the ad-hoc COLA approved last session for paid in 2023. The SCPP was unanimous in recommending this second-year COLA. A reminder that during the 2024 interim, the SCPP will study and recommend a permanent ongoing cost-of-living adjustment for beneficiaries of the PERS Plan 1 and TRS Plan 1.

A public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations was held on 1/15, and it is awaiting scheduling for Executive Session action.

HB 2013: Paying state retirement benefits until the end of the month in which the retiree or beneficiary dies.

Sponsors: Volz, Fitzgibbon, Leavitt, Couture, Ryu, Bronoske, Ramos, Ramel, Ormsby, Jacobsen, Graham, Doglio, Sandlin, Fosse, Robertson, Nance, Riccelli, Reeves

Comment: When a pensioner dies during a month, DRS has to bill a survivor who has received a full month’s benefit for dollars overpaid from time of death. Also, given the reduced amount, often the insurance lapses as well since the payment was not made. This bill allows the survivor to keep the entire month’s amount regardless of when the person died.

A public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations was held on 1/15, and it is awaiting scheduling for Executive Session action.

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Other Areas of Potential Fiscal Impact (and often unfunded) to Districts

Below are titles and a brief summary of proposed bills that may have potential impact to the business operations of districts.

HB 1905 -  Including protected classes in the Washington equal pay and opportunities act. 

Comment: Amends the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to prohibit an employer from discriminating in compensation and career advancement opportunities against similarly employed employees based on the employee's age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

This bill is scheduled for Executive Action on 1/19 in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards. Its companion, SB 5894, has not moved since its public hearing on 1/15.

HB 1927: Reducing the number of days that a worker's temporary total disability must continue to receive industrial insurance compensation for the day of an injury and the three-day period following the injury.

Sponsors: Bronoske, Berry, Ortiz-Self, Reed, Ormsby, Kloba, Doglio, Lekanoff, Fosse, Pollet

Comment:  It reduces the number of days – from 14 to 7 – that a temporary total disability must continue to receive workers' compensation time loss benefits for the first three days following the injury.

It is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/19. Its companion, (SB5932) has not had any movement.

HB 2058: Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.

Sponsors: Riccelli, Rude, Leavitt, Ramel, Berry, Duerr, Slatter, Morgan, Simmons, Reed, Ormsby, Fey, Peterson, Callan, Macri, Gregerson, Chopp, Stonier, Goodman, Berg, Thai, Alvarado, Street, Lekanoff, Paul, Fosse, Doglio, Santos, Timmons, Reeves, Hackney, Tharinger, Shavers, Pollet, Kloba

Comment: TWIO has covered this previously. There is no fiscal note to date, although press reports that the state’s cost will be in excess of $80 million dollars. It is indeterminate what other local school district unfunded costs will be.

This bill was moved out by executive action taken in the House Committee on Education. The companion bill (SB 5964) has had no movement.

HB 2119: Protecting consumers from garnishment of earnings for judgments arising from medical debt.

Sponsors: Riccelli, Taylor, Leavitt, Simmons, Reed, Ormsby, Macri, Fosse, Tharinger, Doglio, Wylie, Reeves, Pollet

Comment: It would prohibit the issuance of a writ of garnishment against the earnings of a judgment debtor where the judgment arises from the medical debt of the debtor.

It is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary on 1/26. 

HB 2127 - 2023-24: Concerning workers' compensation incentives to return to work.

Sponsors: Schmidt, Berry, Leavitt, Reed, Ormsby, Graham, Pollet

Comment: Modifies certain return-to-work policies and reimbursement amounts under the workers' compensation program. • Increases the maximum amounts of reimbursements paid to employers participating in the Stay at Work Program and Preferred Worker Program by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). • Increases the maximum amount paid to qualifying employers for job modification costs by L&I.

This bill is scheduled for Executive Session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards Jan. 24^th.

HB 2246 - Concerning vacation leave accrual for state employees. 

Comment: Comment: Scheduled for a public hearing on 1/26 before the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards.

HB 2381: Increasing eligibility for economy and efficiency flexible school calendar waivers.

Sponsors: McEntire, Shavers, Chapman

Comment: OSPI may grant waivers of the requirement for a 180-day school year to school districts that propose to operate one or more schools on a flexible calendar for purposes of economy and efficiency. The superintendent of public instruction may grant waivers 36 authorized under this section to school districts 37 with student populations of less than 1,000 students.

It is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Education on 1/26.

SB 5059 - Concerning pre-judgment interest. 

Comment: Dan Steele has already addressed this bill and its potential for adversely affecting school district finances.

It had a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM, Jan. 15^th. No further action to date.

2SHB 1618: Concerning the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.

Comment: Again, this has been addressed in previous reports, and the potential to create economic havoc within districts remains. It removes the statute of limitations for recovery of damages as a result of childhood sexual abuse. • • Applies the act retroactively and prospectively.

The Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading waiting action on House floor. 

SB 5777 - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Comment: Deletes a provision that disqualifies employees in a multi-employer bargaining unit from unemployment insurance benefits when the employees have been locked out following a strike against the employers in the bargaining unit. • Modifies the period of disqualification from unemployment insurance benefits for striking workers to end at the earlier of the Sunday following the first day of the strike or at the end of the strike.

This bill has been passed to Rules awaiting movement to the Senate calendar. Its companion (HB 1893) is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/19.

SB 5789 -  Concerning the sales and use tax for school construction assistance program capital projects.

Comment: This bill has been referred to Ways and Means with no movement to date.

SB 5793 -  Concerning paid sick leave.

Comment: This bill appears to broaden acceptable uses for sick leave. It allows an employee or transportation network company driver to use paid sick leave when their child's school or place of care is closed due to weather or a public emergency. • Modifies the definition of family member for the purpose of using paid sick leave to include any individual who regularly resides in the employee's home or where the relationship creates an expectation the employee care for the person, and that individual depends on the employee for care, except it does not include an individual who simply resides in the same home with no expectation the employee care for the individual. • • Provides that a child also includes a child's spouse

It has been scheduled for Executive Action in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce on 1/22. Its companion, (HB 1991) scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards on 1/26.

SB 5873 - 2023-24

Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.

Comment: This bill, subject to budget appropriations, increases funding for student transportation. Of added import is that it provides that pupil transportation services contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after September 1, 2024, must require the contractor to provide employee health and retirement benefits comparable to those received by school employees. It also states: “Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this purpose, OSPI must provide a one-time supplemental transportation allocation to school districts that experience an increase in costs to pupil transportation services contracts due to the new benefit requirements. To be eligible for the supplemental allocations, a school district must report to OSPI regarding the number of contracted employees who worked at least 630 hours performing contract services in the school year prior to entering a contract with the new benefits. Supplemental allocations may only be used as payments under pupil transportation services contracts for employee compensation and may not exceed $200 per contracted employee per month.”

This bill was passed out of the Early Learning & K-12 Education committee and is now scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means Committee on 1/23.

SB 5924 - 2023-24 Concerning access to personnel records.

Concerning access to personnel records.

Comment: Requires an employer to furnish an employee, former employee, or their designee with the employee's personnel file at no cost within 21 calendar days of a request. • Mandates an employer to furnish a former employee with a signed written statement with the effective date of discharge, whether the employer had a reason for the discharge and, if so, the reasons, within 21 calendar days of the written request. • Allows an employee or former employee to bring a private action, after five days' notice, for violations of certain rights regarding personnel files and discharge information, for equitable relief, graduated statutory damages up to $1,000, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of each violation.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM, January 11. No further movement to date.

SB 5978: Authorizing the office of the superintendent of public instruction to act as a guarantor for a county when the county provides a loan to a school district.

Sponsors: Robinson, Nobles

Comment: It is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 1/22.

SB 6045 - Concerning school district efficiencies and consolidation.

Comment: Self-explanatory. This is not the first time this idea of forcing efficiencies has been introduced.

It is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on 1/25.

Fred Yancey
The Nexus Group LLC

North Pines Middle School is a beautiful, state-of-the-art building located in the heart of Spokane Valley. When you enter the facilities, it seems like any middle school in Washington State. It is abuzz with students and typical boisterous middle school activity - staff greeting students at the door, students greeting one another, and staff urging students to get to class. Then, the bell and quiet set in, and the learning starts. There are so many layers to the work happening in our schools across the state to set the learning conditions for our students. North Pines is one of the most diverse schools in the Central Valley School district, and they have taken their job to provide equitable, rigorous learning opportunities for their students seriously.  

As busy, involved school leaders, it's essential to have models and examples of what works for our students. In my experience, articles and research also have a role in this work. Still, once the school year has started, it is a mad dash to keep existing goals and initiatives going, so if I am going to add anything to the school’s plate, it has to be something that can be done tomorrow with little or no training or funding needed to implement. Not knowing your context's capacity, I will highlight North Pines's inclusion journey and let you decide what you can take and utilize. Knowing inclusion benefits everyone, we must keep taking steps forward to ensure all our students have access and opportunities to the high-level learning experiences our teachers have planned.

Working backward from where they are now, on this day, the admin team is conducting walkthroughs in their co-taught ELA and math classes. They had some footwork to do to get to where they are today. In preparation for co-taught classes, they had to set the stage for inclusion at their August staff days. They enlisted their local ESD inclusionary practices coordinator to lead some professional development to support their entire staff “where they were”. Those topics included Co-teaching/planning, Standards-based IEP Goal Writing, and Inclusion for All.

The teachers they expected to attend did, and surprisingly, the session open to all teachers about universal supports was standing-room only!

The administrative teams enlisted support from the Building Learning Team (BLT) to set up the August training. These are teachers typically identified as department leads; however, this year, their role was redefined to support the school’s focus on PLC work and lead their content areas. To get everyone in a learning mindset, the BLT revisited the current co-teaching model and “rumbled” (a reference to Brene Brown’s Dare to Lead coaching series) and how students with language needs accessed the co-teaching classes and universal intervention time. This leads the leadership team to suggest an additional professional learning opportunity on “Teacher Tuesdays” (an organic, optional time for teachers to gather to address specific learning topics and learn together) utilizing experts on Universal Design and Language instruction from their local ESD.

In the spring, the team worked together to redesign their schedule to accommodate for time and support in the school day, along with aligning ELA and math teachers' planning and teaching time to ensure they could co-plan and co-teach. Additionally, the administration requested to “pilot” a classroom behavior tracker application to replace a system that was too expensive for the district to continue to support. Since the implementation of the app, the administration reports they have been able to cut their office discipline intervention in half, leaving students in their classrooms to learn alongside their peers. 

To set the stage for an inclusive teaching and leading mindset, the team took advantage of the AWSP Shelley Moore series, first as an admin team and then as a teacher/admin team. After completing these trainings together, it was easy to see the teachers had a readiness to benefit and were ready to implement co-planning and co-teaching for the following year with the support of their ESD partner and their Multilingual Education partner provided by OSSI (Office of System and School Improvement).

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Getting Started

A recurring theme is this work is too difficult to do alone. A first step may be to do an inventory, much like a grocer does to stock the shelves. Start by asking:

• What are we already doing?
• What resources within the school do we already have? (i.e., curriculum, MTSS supports, universal design strategies, etc.)
• What resources within our district do we already have?
• What resources do we have within our region, associations, ESDs, etc?

Then, ask where we want to be in our inclusion journey and what we need to get there. When your team (administrators and teacher leaders) knows what that is, enlist those partners.  

Practical evidence you are making progress toward your goals are:

• Your bell schedule
• Your course timetable
• Your “big rocks” or year-long initiatives tied to your district plan
• Your professional learning opportunities- before and during the school year
• Understanding the student experience, i.e., student shadows, classroom walkthroughs, and data collection - both qualitative and quantitative

One of the most notable observations from my walkthrough at North Pines was that (1) in all the co-taught classrooms, there were little or no class interruptions, (2) you couldn’t tell who was receiving IEP support and who wasn’t, and (3) the overwhelming request from co-teachers was for feedback to improve their practice. Though North Pines is beginning its journey, it has set the conditions to continue building equitable systems for its students. 

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Thoughts from Principal Jeremy Vincent

Jeremy has been in education for 20 years, 11 as a teacher and the past nine in administration. His professional philosophy, adapted from a long-time administrator and mentor, goes likes this: Students and families have a lot of issues in their lives; don’t make school one of them.

I asked Jeremy a few questions about North Pines' inclusion journey. Here's what he shared with me. 

What has surprised you with this work?

How much I enjoy the “weeds” of the education system! I discovered that I enjoy finding out how different elements of the education system work. This has led me to better understand how to utilize these systems fully.

What’s next for your school and Inclusion?

Increasing our co-teaching classrooms so that 100% of our students with an IEP are in a general education math and ELA class. Currently, our 8th graders and Extended Resource students with IEPs are in a traditional Resource Room rather than in a general education Math or ELA classroom. Next year, we will add two more co-taught classrooms, one in 8th grade ELA and the other in 8th grade Math. This will also allow us to include more ER students in general education. 95% of our students with IEPs will be in a general education ELA and Math class. In addition, English Language Development (ELD) has elements of inclusion. Still, we want to examine our practices to ensure we provide what’s best for these students and what areas we need to improve to support inclusion better (20% of our population).

May other principals contact you as a resource?

Absolutely! Just send me an email.

Session Begins – It’s a Sprint!

The 2024 Legislative Session kicked off this week, and it will be a 60-day sprint to the finish. Hundreds of new bills were pre-filed, hundreds of bills are still in play from last year, and hundreds of new bills are being introduced, which makes for lots of reading and a massive bill tracking list. The first cut-off of the session is January 31, when bills must pass off the floor of their house of origin, so this list will be much shorter in just a few weeks. Whew.

Passing supplemental budgets for transportation, capital, and operating costs is the main emphasis for legislators, and the starting point is Governor Inslee’s proposed $70.9 billion supplemental budget. The Governor would provide additional funding in K-12 education for paraeducator compensation, meals for students, and increase the cap on special education to 17.25%. He also includes a variety of smaller investments in other programs.

Our AWSP legislative platform includes two specific budget asks that our partners at OSPI included as a decision package request to Governor Inslee. The Governor did not include these requests in his budget, so we are asking legislators to include them in the final supplemental budget.

Our first request is an enhancement to our state’s principal internship program. Currently, funding is available to cover only 8-10 substitute days for interns receiving this grant. This is not sufficient preparation. We are asking for an additional one million dollars so grant recipients can have at least 25-30 days covered.

The second item is for $860,000, which allows OSPI to partner with us and provides more secure funding and support for associate director positions. These positions support principal professional learning, respond to member support calls, and provide coaching. They also support ongoing work related to instruction, evaluation, behavior, mental health, and more.

As a member of the School Funding Coalition, we continue to work alongside other statewide associations, like WASA and WSSDA, to urge legislators to update the prototypical funding model for principals and other staff. We are thrilled Representative Alicia Rule sponsored HB 2212, which will update the ratio for building administrators, and we are now working to get the bill a hearing in House Appropriations.

We are also working to pass SB 5085. This bill would update 28A.405.245 related to employment provisions. Our goal is to add assistant principals and require that specific evaluation criteria be used if principals or assistant principals are being moved to a subordinate position. We also want to ensure that all years of experience in education count, no matter the role (teacher or administrator). We do not see this RCW connected to moving staff to subordinate positions due to enrollment or funding declines, which, unfortunately, may still have to occur in districts.

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Bills this Week

Here are the bills that were heard in the House and Senate Education Committees this week. I also have been tracking a few bills in the Higher Education and Healthcare Committees.

House Education

Monday and Tuesday Work Sessions on Restraint and Isolation:

On Monday, the information centered around federal and state laws, policies, and data. On Tuesday, we heard from practitioners in the field, including Principal Patrick Vincent from Union Gap. Thank you for sharing your time and expertise, Patrick! All groups agree that eliminating trauma for all students and building relational safety before escalation occurs is needed. We need clarity in the rules, and we need adequate resources, staffing, and training to ensure the safety of students and staff. How we get there is more complicated. The Senate has its own (simpler) bill on restraint and isolation that will be heard in week three. I’ll share more on that next week.

Thursday:

• E2SHB 1479 | Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools and educational programs.
• HB 1914 | Improving the education of students with varying abilities by enhancing special education services. This bill puts the burden of proof on districts.
• HB 2058 | Increasing student access to free meals served at public schools.
• HB 1608 | Expanding access to anaphylaxis medications in schools.

Senate Education

Wednesday:

• SB 5873 | Providing adequate and predictable student transportation.
• SB 5882 | Increasing prototypical school staffing (classified) to better meet student needs.
• SB 5823 | Concerning school district elections. (simple majority for bonds)
• SJR 8207 | Amending the Constitution to allow a majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.
• SB 5809 | Concerning enrichment funding for charter public schools.

Thursday:

• SB 5790 | Concerning bleeding control equipment in schools.
• SB 5804 | Concerning opioid overdose reversal medication in high schools.
• SB 5923 | Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.
• SB 5850 | Supporting students who are chronically absent and at risk for not graduating high school.

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Next Week’s Bills

House Education

Monday

• HB 1915 | Making financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education.
• HB 1935 | Promoting resource conservation practices that include student education and leadership opportunities in public schools.
• HB 2282 | Identifying African American studies curricula for students in grades 7-12.
• HB 1843 | Modifying school district elections.
• HJR 4207 | Amending the Constitution to allow 55 percent of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.

Tuesday

• HB 1879 | Naming the curriculum used to inform students about tribal history, culture, and government after John McCoy (lulilaš).
• HB 2005 | Including weighted grade point averages on high school transcripts.
• HB 2110 | Reorganizing statutory requirements governing high school graduation.
• HB 2267 | Providing public school students with opportunities for cultural expression at commencement ceremonies.
• HB 2236 | Expanding and strengthening career and technical education core plus programs.

Thursday

• HB 1956 | Addressing fentanyl and other substance use prevention education.

Senate Education

Monday

• SB 5852 | Concerning special education safety net awards.
• SB 5883 | Concerning the burden of proof for special education due process hearings.
• SJM 8007 | Requesting Congress to fully fund 40 percent of the costs of IDEA.
• SB 6014 | Increasing the special education enrollment funding cap.
• SB 5956 | Concerning the maximum per-pupil limit for enrichment levies.

Wednesday

• SB 5813 | Mandating instruction on agricultural literacy for students in grades 7-12.
• SB 5819 | Making financial education instruction a graduation prerequisite and a required component of public education.
• SB 5849 | Concerning a computer science competency graduation requirement.
• SB 5851 | Concerning Holocaust and genocide education in public schools.

Thursday

• SB 5870 | Expanding and streamlining eligibility for early learning programs.
• SB 5933 | Concerning funding for the early support for infants and toddlers program.
• SB 5941 | Clarifying requirements for subsidized child care.
• SB 6018 | Designating early learning coordinators at educational service districts.

There’s definitely not a shortage of ideas out there. Below are additional links to find out more about these bills and to contact your own legislators. Legislators care very much about hearing directly from their constituents. When we weigh in as an association, it is helpful and important, but having many of you reach out directly with a short email to legislators can be much more powerful.

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Important Links:

• Washington State Legislature
• Bill Search
• Find Your Legislators
• Email Your Legislators

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Other Advocacy Efforts

Principal for a Day

A HUGE thank you to Terrie Garrison, Principal at Firgrove Elementary in Puyallup for hosting Senator Claire Wilson (Vice Chair of the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee) and Jenny Hunt, Principal at Broad View Elementary in Oak Harbor for hosting Representative Clyde Shavers (Vice Chair of the House Education Committee) in our first ever official Principal for a Day event. From all accounts, these were very successful events and we look forward to even more of these events next fall.

Day on the Hill

Many of our Advocacy Advisory Council and AWSP Board Members are planning a visit to Olympia on February 5 for our annual “Day on the Hill." They will be meeting with their own legislators and perhaps attending some committee hearings. You can get involved by scheduling a virtual meeting with your own legislators that week. See the links shared above to find your district legislators and their email addresses.

Even More Information!

Finally, for those of you who crave even more information about what lies ahead for these next few weeks, check out WASA's Legislative Session Preview — many thanks to Dan Steele for his thorough review and insights.

Here is my complete bill tracking list for this week.

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Get Involved

Many thanks for all that you do for students and staff. Please reach out if you have questions or comments. Thank you!

“The time has come,” the walrus said, “to talk of many things: of shoes,
and ships-and sealing wax-of cabbages and kings.”

Lewis Carroll

The second year of the 68^th Washington State Biennial Legislature has begun.

Given that this will be a "short" session, the pace will be brisk (an understatement). Numerous bills have been and will continue to be introduced. Some are good ideas; others are not, and some are just plain silly. Hearings have started.  

A caveat:  There are always more bills proposed than will survive the entire process. (Thank goodness!) With that in mind, below is a report and comments on selected bills that may or may not remain as the session unfolds. The point is that until hearings on selected bills are scheduled, most are just titles and text with no explanations or fiscal notes. As these become available, more detail will be presented in this report.

Also, some bills have companion bills from the opposite house. If the companion is not also scheduled for a hearing, it is assumed that the bill scheduled will be the vehicle. See some notes below.

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Retirement Related Proposals

General Comment: The unfunded pension liability (UAAL) in the TRS/PERS Plans 1 is due to lessen in the 2025-27 Biennium. That will result in $300+ million in savings for the state. School districts are currently paying pension surcharges in addition to the regular pension contributions. These surcharges will be substantially reduced under a timeline proposed by OFM and proposed legislation, saving the districts dollars they must allocate, particularly for excess staff not funded by the state. Cities and counties will also save money. Eventually, the surcharge will be zero, and all that will be left may be a result of benefit improvements. The reduced, projected contribution rates can vary as well. Exactly when this happens is subject to both investment returns and actual experience. For example, the current estimated contribution rate for PERS 1 for 2025 is 6.36%, and the surcharge is an additional 2.47%. For 2025-27, the rates change to 5.83% and 1.47%, and for 2027-2029; 4.85% and 0.92%.

HB 1985: Providing a benefit increase to certain retirees of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement system plan 1.

Sponsors: Timmons, Leavitt, Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Ramos, Ramel, Bateman, Ormsby, Jacobsen, Callan, Rule, Kloba, Street, Doglio, Fosse, Paul, Bergquist, Goodman, Ortiz-Self, Lekanoff, Reeves, Nance, Riccelli, Hackney, Pollet, Shavers

By Request: Select Committee on Pension Policy (SCPP)

Comment: This bill would provide an ad-hoc 3% increase in 2024 not to exceed $125/month for TRS1/PERS1 Plan retirees. This is an increase in the ad-hoc COLA approved last session for paid in 2023. The SCPP was unanimous in recommending this second year COLA. A reminder that during the 2024 interim, the SCPP will study and recommend a permanent ongoing cost-of-living adjustment for beneficiaries of the public employees' retirement system plan 1 and the teachers' retirement 2 system plan 1.

It is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM, Jan. 15^th.

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Other Areas of Potential Fiscal Impact (and often unfunded) to Districts

Some bills are listed and not yet, if ever, scheduled for hearings. The bill titles and a brief read of each indicate some potential impact to districts. As hearings and bill summaries are released, more information will be provided.

HB 1905 -  Including protected classes in the Washington equal pay and opportunities act.

Sponsors: Mena, Senn, Berry, Cortes, Morgan, Ortiz-Self, Ramel, Ramos, Bateman, Reed, Ormsby, Callan, Kloba, Macri, Street, Gregerson, Doglio, Orwall, Bergquist, Goodman, Reeves, Lekanoff, Hackney, Fosse, Pollet, Davis, Simmons

Comment: Amends the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to prohibit an employer from discriminating in compensation and career advancement opportunities against similarly employed employees based on the employee's age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.

This bill was scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM and now scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM, Jan. 19^th.

HB 2127 - 2023-24: Concerning workers' compensation incentives to return to work.

Sponsors: Schmidt, Berry, Leavitt, Reed, Ormsby, Graham, Pollet

Comment: This bill is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM, Jan. 16^th.

SB 5894: Including protected classes in the Washington equal pay and opportunities act.

Sponsors: Nobles, Keiser, Frame, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Randall, Saldaña, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Wilson, C.

Comment: Companion to 1905 above. It is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM, Jan. 15^th.  

HB 2136 - 2023-24 Concerning prevailing wage sanctions, penalties, and debarment.

Sponsors: Ormsby, Schmidt, Doglio, Farivar, Berry, Simmons, Reed, Ramel, Mena, Goodman, Berg, Fosse, Reeves, Pollet, Kloba

Comment:  It is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards

SB 6111 - 2023-24 Concerning prevailing wage sanctions, penalties, and debarment.

Sponsors: Conway, Saldaña, Trudeau, Randall, Lovick, Keiser

Comment: Companion to 2136 above. Referred to Labor & Commerce 

HB 2246 - Concerning vacation leave accrual for state employees.

Sponsors: Bateman, Low, Gregerson, Bronoske, Robertson, Reeves, Paul, Reed, Doglio

Comment: No hearing scheduled to date.

SB 5059 - Concerning pre-judgment interest.

Sponsors: Kuderer, Trudeau, Conway, Nobles, Pedersen, Stanford, Valdez, Wellman

Comment: Dan Steele has already addressed this bill and its potential for adversely affecting school district finances. It is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM, Jan. 15^th. 

HB 1649 - Concerning prejudgment interest.

Sponsors: Hackney, Berry, Taylor, Stonier, Pollet, Macri, Fosse

Comment: No hearing scheduled to date. It appears the Senate bill (above) will be the vehicle to move.

HB 1618 - Concerning the statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.

Sponsors: Farivar, Simmons, Wylie, Berry, Walen, Fosse, Morgan, Macri, Pollet, Doglio, Reed, Caldier, Orwall

Comment: Again, this has been addressed in previous reports and the potential to create economic havoc within districts remains. No hearings are scheduled to date.

SB 5777 - Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Sponsors: Keiser, Conway, Lovick, Valdez, Trudeau, Shewmake, Randall, Van De Wege, Dhingra, Stanford, Hasegawa, Nguyen, Hunt, Kauffman, Liias, Frame, Kuderer, Nobles, Pedersen, Salomon, Wilson, C.

Comment: Deletes a provision that disqualifies employees in a multi-employer bargaining unit from unemployment insurance benefits when the employees have been locked out following a strike against the employers in the bargaining unit. Modifies the period of disqualification from unemployment insurance benefits for striking workers to end at the earlier of the Sunday, following the first day of the strike or at the end of the strike.

A public hearing was held on Jan. 9^th before the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce.

HB 1893 -  Concerning unemployment insurance benefits for striking or lockout workers.

Sponsors: Doglio, Berry, Fosse, Reeves, Farivar, Hackney, Ryu, Ortiz-Self, Orwall, Callan, Macri, Goodman, Senn, Slatter, Riccelli, Tharinger, Bronoske, 

Ramel, Wylie, Pollet, Cortes, Chopp, Bergquist, Berg, Fey, Donaghy, Reed, Street, Stonier, Kloba, Leavitt, Mena, Simmons, Morgan, Alvarado, Walen, Taylor, Peterson, Ormsby, Stearns, Thai, Bateman, Duerr, Ramos, Rule, Gregerson, Lekanoff, Nance, Santos, Shavers, Davis

Comment; Companion to SB 5777 above. Hearing held on Jan 9 before the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM. It is scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM, Jan 19^th.

SB 5789 -  Concerning the sales and use tax for school construction assistance program capital projects.

Sponsors: Mullet, Schoesler, Dozier, Nobles, Pedersen, Torres

Comment: This bill has been referred to Ways and Means.

SB 5793 -  Concerning paid sick leave.

Sponsors: Saldaña, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nobles, Stanford, Valdez, Wilson, C.

Comment: This bill appears to broaden acceptable uses for sick leave. It has been scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM, Jan 15^th.

HB 1991 -  Concerning paid sick leave.

Sponsors: Fosse, Berry, Ramel, Reed, Ormsby, Ryu, Callan, Kloba, Doglio, Chopp, Paul, Berg, Lekanoff, Nance, Riccelli, Cortes, Pollet

Comment: Companion to 5793 above. It has been scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 8:00 AM, Jan. 17^th.

SB 5924 - 2023-24 Concerning access to personnel records.

Sponsors: Kuderer, Wellman, Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Lovelett, Nobles, Stanford, Valdez, Wilson, C.

Comment: Requires an employer to furnish an employee, former employee, or their designee with the employee's personnel file at no cost within 21 calendar days of a request. Mandates an employer to furnish a former employee with a signed written statement with the effective date of discharge, whether the employer had a reason for the discharge and, if so, the reasons, within 21 calendar days of the written request. Allows an employee or former employee to bring a private action, after five days notice, for violations of certain rights regarding personnel files, and discharge information, for equitable relief, graduated statutory damages up to $1,000, and reasonable attorneys' fees and costs of each violation.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM, January 11.

SB 6045 - Concerning school district efficiencies and consolidation.

Sponsors: Hunt, Valdez

Comment: Self-explanatory. This is not the first time this idea of forcing efficiencies has been introduced. Is awaiting a hearing.

Fred Yancey
The Nexus Group LLC

January 9, 2024, Washington, D.C. —The United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) announces that high school students Ms. Gianna Patrice Frank and Ms. Mahika Kavya Malladi will join Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell in representing Washington during the 62nd annual USSYP Washington Week, to be held March 2 — 9, 2024. Gianna Frank of Marysville and Mahika Malladi of Redmond were selected from among the state’s top student leaders to be part of the 104 national student delegation. Each delegate will also receive a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate study.

As we embrace the new year, it's important we take a moment to reflect and report on our AWSP Principals’ Fall Forum that took place in November - a testament to the resilience and collaborative spirit of Washington's school leaders. The virtual gathering provided a unique opportunity for regional connections, idea sharing, and the reaffirmation that, in our shared journey, no school leader stands alone.

Regional Bonds: A Pillar of Success

The heart of the Fall Forum lies in its commitment to regional collaboration. Our virtual discussion rooms, organized by grade level and region, facilitated dynamic conversations guided by representatives from our incredible Grade Level Leadership Committee. This strategic approach ensured discussions were insightful and deeply rooted in the specific challenges and triumphs faced by school leaders across Washington.

The overwhelming response from attendees spoke volumes: "Loaded with information." We are delighted that the Forum fulfilled its mission of providing a wealth of valuable insights, resources, and connections.

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Key Takeaways: A Glimpse into the Forum's Success

As we delved into the survey responses, it became clear several aspects of the Forum stood out as particularly valuable to our members:

• Legislative Update: Navigating the legislative landscape is crucial for informed decision-making. The comprehensive legislative update shared at the Forum by AWSP’s Government Relations and Advocacy Director, Roz Thompson, served as a beacon, ensuring that our leaders are equipped to advocate effectively for their schools amidst the evolving policy landscape.

• Reminder of AWSP Resources and Benefits: Our association offers a robust array of resources, support, and opportunities. Reminders about what AWSP provides proved invaluable, helping members navigate the extensive toolkit at their disposal.

• Attendance Strategies: Addressing attendance challenges is a shared endeavor. The Forum provided a platform for leaders to share innovative ideas, strategies, and successful initiatives, fostering a collaborative approach to a common issue.

• TPEP Concerns: Discussions around Teacher and Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP) concerns resonated deeply with our members. The Forum allowed for the exchange of experiences and insights, contributing to a collective understanding of the evaluation processes.

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You Are Not Alone: A Resounding Message

The resounding sentiment echoed by our members was the appreciation for the reassurance they are not alone in their leadership journey. School leaders face unique challenges, and the Fall Forum reminded us that our community is a wellspring of support, wisdom, and camaraderie.

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Save the Date for the Winter Forum!

Building on the success of the Fall Forum, we are excited to announce our Winter Principals’ Forum scheduled for Tuesday, February 13th, from 4-5 pm. This virtual gathering promises to be another opportunity for connection, learning, and collaboration. Special thanks to our business partner, Lexia Learning, for sponsoring the Winter Forum. Please register for the Winter Forum through the AWSP Learning Lab.

Thank you to each member who contributed to the success of the Fall Forum. Your engagement is the cornerstone of our association's strength, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

As you may know, there are new administrator certificate renewal requirements as of July 1, 2023. One of the new requirements is to have five clock hours of Government-to-Government training. Administrators also need to complete 10 clock hours related to leadership standards and 10 equity-related clock hours before renewing their certificates. 

This training has been developed and is being implemented by OSPI's Office of Native Education (ONE). Initially, these trainings were only being done in person or in a live-virtual platform. Many school leaders across the state have let us know that they have been unable to attend these sessions, or have been placed on a waiting list as these sessions have filled up very quickly. We have been continually advocating for additional trainings and an asynchronous option for busy school leaders.

We received good news from ONE this week! They are developing an asynchronous version of this required training. Here is the information we got. 

We are developing an online asynchronous training, which will satisfy the new administrative certificate renewal requirement, with a tentative release date of February 27, 2024. We also have an April 2024 Government-to-Government Relationships hybrid training planned which will be on the westside of the state. The date has not yet been solidified. Once information is available, it will be posted to the Tribal Consultation webpage and available via the Office of Native Education newsflashes. We have been having some OSPI sitewide issues, so we definitely recommend signing up for the newsflashes.

Sign up for updates from the Office of Native Education.

For those people whose certificate expires June 2025 or later, Government-to-Government training will be offered as a pre-conference session at our 2024 Summer Conference. 

As a former district administrator (who helped lead media literacy and digital citizenship across 30+ schools), I’ll admit that it often felt like flossing — one more thing for teachers and students. 

Important? Yup. Easy to neglect? Yup.

I’ll be kicking off a series of six OSPI webinars (free!) on media literacy and digital citizenship beginning in December designed for administrators and leaders who want to enhance media literacy and digital citizenship instruction in their schools. 

Featuring national leaders in these fields, each webinar will help leaders and educators find ways to enhance media literacy and digital citizenship instruction by connecting them to existing strategic school and district initiatives. 

Whether your focus is social and emotional learning or preparing 21st century graduates, like ice cream after a big meal, there is always a little space to help your kids build media literacy and digital citizenship skills in the classroom or library. These webinars will build your understanding of these topics and help you find strategic connections to what’s already happening in your schools. 

Each webinar will have a different focus so you can select those which fit your schedule or local needs. (If you can’t join, they will be recorded for later viewing.) We’re encouraging participants to identify one or more ‘buddies’ to ride along. That way, someone can tune in if others cannot. And you’ll have media literacy and digital citizenship partners to help plan your next steps.

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Webinar schedule

(all meetings are 5:00 - 6:30 and will be recorded)

• December 7 - Guest speaker, Mark Ray

  • Why ML&DC instruction matters and how it can support the success of existing plans & goals 

• January 11 - Guest speaker, Faith Rogow

  • What's already going on in your building(s)

  • Scope & sequence options

• February 8 - Guest speaker, Jamie Nunez 

  • How digital citizenship instruction solves problems before they happen

  • Common Sense Media integration resources 

• March 7 - Guest speaker, Faith Rogow

  • Curriculum-driven opportunities for integrating Media Literacy
    Best options for building teacher capacity

• March 28 - Guest speaker, Kristen Mattson

  • What's the digital citizenship culture in your building(s)
    More ideas for curriculum integration

• May 2 - Guest speaker, Faith Rogow

  • Next steps and what you need to take those steps

After becoming the 2012 Washington State Teacher of the Year, I wrote an op-ed in the Seattle Times about ‘truthiness’ and media literacy. In 2012, media literacy was still something we could chuckle at. Today, media literacy and digital citizenship are no longer a laughing matter. 

Thankfully, Washington state and OSPI are prioritizing media literacy and digital citizenship learning in our schools. This unique offering for school and district leaders is a way to ensure more students learn essential media literacy and digital citizenship as they learn and grow in your schools.

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Registration and Contact Info

Register on pdEnroller for these FREE webinars! Zoom details will be provided after registration.

For more information, visit this site or contact OSPI Media Literacy & Digital Citizenship Program Supervisor, Lesley James.

Happy New Year

This past year is one that provided me a variety of opportunities to learn, grow and become a better person and principal. As we turn the page into the New Year I want to encourage you to reflect on the positive memories of last year. It is important to honor the incredible work you have done to support your staff, students, and families you serve through this school year. Even when exhausted you continue to inspire and motivate your staff. If no one has told you lately I want you to know you are doing a phenomenal job. I hope you find this month's newsletter full of simple ideas to help bring laughter and joy to your work. Feel free to reach out to me if I can do anything to support your work or be a sounding board as you maneuver through this school year. Find me on Twitter @sholtys. Cheers to 2024 and this fantastic world of principaling. –Cindy

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A Few of My Favorites in January

 

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January Days to Celebrate

Jan 3 | National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day Pick up some of these chocolates after Christmas on sale for this day or Jan 3 is also National Drinking Straw Day. Have you thought about providing staff with environmental friendly straws? Include a note or sign “Taking Care of You and our Environment Today”.

Jan 4 | National Spaghetti Day (It's what is for dinner), AND it is also National Trivia Day- game time for everyone--think Kahoot! or random email trivia.

Jan 5 | National Bird Day Is your school mascot a bird? You could really do so many fun things with this one. And it is also National Whipped Cream Day-Bring in desserts for an afternoon snack that you could add whip cream to. (Ice cream, cookies, angel food cake, shakes, floats and fruit). Deliver via room services to your staff for an added bonus.

Jan 8 | National Bubble Bath Day No baths at school, but you could have a blast with bubbles. Bubble machines or bubbles to greet students and staff, have a recess time bubble party, or use a little bubble magic during lunch. (I am having visions of Laurence Welk in my head--yes I am that old). National Clean Your Desk Day is also January 8. Take the opportunity to help students learn a few organizational ideas and strategies they can apply to the real world.

Jan 9 | National Apricot Day One of my favorite dehydrated fruits!

Jan 12 | National Hot Tea Day Could you have a tea bar available in the staff room at the beginning of the day? Maybe have an afternoon tea party this afternoon.

Jan 18 | National Thesaurus Day Have a few fun words listed in the staff room and have staff come up with synonyms and antonyms as part of a trivia OR celebrate National Winnie the Pooh Day. You could easily include some of these classic quotes throughout the day or in announcements: “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”-Christopher Robbin; “After all, one can’t complain. I have my friends.”-Eeyore; “The things that make me different are the things that make me, me.”- Piglet

Jan 19 | National Popcorn Day A pack of microwave popcorn to help staff "positively popping into 2024". Or a buffet for a movie night at home with family, include popcorn and candy to help staff balance work and family tonight.

Jan 23 | Measure Your Feet Day Okay, this is an unusual holiday for sure, BUT what a great math connection for students.

Jan 24 | National Compliment Day Provide staff members with a notecard to write a compliment on for co-worker or school volunteer. Connect with families by also sending out appreciations post-cards for their never ending support of the school (Don't forget your PTO). And it is also National Peanut Butter Day, so pick up some individual packets of peanut butter and provide staff with various items to dip. This could include bananas, apples, celery, crackers, chocolate and anything else you can think of!!

Jan 26 | National Fun at Work Day This is a day to do simple and fun things for staff: music, puzzles, and activities in the staff room. A great opportunity to have “fun” with staff.

Jan 29 | National Puzzle Day Place a few puzzles in your staff room for staff to work on during lunch or breaks, or provide a cookie that is in the shape of a puzzle with a note "You are a part of the puzzle that keeps our school striving for excellence".

Jan 30 | National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day Oh my, this should be so much fun!! Wrap a special treat in bubble wrap for staff. Or create a stress relief kit with bubble wrap and a few other items (ibuprofen, gift card for class coverage/recess duty, stress balls, breath mints, etc), AND you can celebrate National Plan for Vacation Day which would be a great question for staff today. Use a poster in the staff room and ask, “Where would you like to go on vacation?” Provide staff with post-its to write their answers and place it under the question.

Jan 31 | National Hot Chocolate Day Easy one!!

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Cindy is in her 23rd year as a school administrator. She is currently the principal of Kelso Virtual Academy and Loowit Alternative High School within the Kelso School District in Kelso, Washington. Cindy has been recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as the 2021 National Digital Principal of the Year. She has two teenagers and has been married to her husband, Leszek for 23 years. Find her on Twitter @sholtys.

Happy Holidays from the Staff at AWSP

2023 has been a great year thanks to all of you! We hope that you are able to truly rest and enjoy the holidays during the next couple of weeks.

Please note that the AWSP office will be closed Tuesday, Dec. 19 at noon through Tuesday, Jan. 2. If you have a true professional emergency during the break, please email our executive director, Dr. Scott Seaman.

Best wishes to you and your family this season.We'll see you in 2024!

One of my FAVORITE Times of Year

Happy December friends. I absolutely LOVE the holiday season. This is the month you MUST remember to take care of you, have some fun with your family AND make some unforgettable memories. I find by adding fun activities for my staff I automatically get an energy boost from their positivity, smiles, and excitement. Research is clear when you help others fill their bucket YOUR bucket also gets filled. I encourage you to go for it this month and try something new and unique. Your staff will appreciate it and so will your heart and spirit. Remember to email me or tag me on social media so I can see your creations and celebrations.

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A few of Cindy's Favorites

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Festivus for the Rest of Us

December Days to Celebrate

December 1 | “National Christmas Lights Day” | Surprise students and staff when they walk into your office and staff room with lights. There are battery operated lights to help you spruce up areas without needing a nearby plug in. December 1 is also “National Eat a Red Apple Day” – Think an apple a day keeps the doctor away during cold season. AND also National Pie Day. So many individual little pies to have available for staff and bring around in your treat cart for an afternoon snack.

December 4 | "National Cookie Day" | This could be one of the easiest days to plan and one that would be guaranteed to be remembered. Pass out pre-made cookie dough to your staff. Let them know that you want to provide them with the opportunity to begin to make family memories. December 4 is also “National Sock Day” A great day to have a crazy sock dress up day.

December 5 | “World Trick Shot Day” | In PE or out on the playground, have a trick shot competition with students and/or staff.

December 7 | I want to combine a couple of days here. “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day” and “National Letter Writing Day”, in my mind, can beautifully intertwine. | December 7 is such an important day in our history, and if we can have students write a quick note to former service members (local VFW, Legion or retirement centers) on behalf of the legacy of the veterans who lost their life on that day, that could be very powerful.

December 8 | “National Brownie Day”  | Little Debbie Brownies with a sticker that says “Happy National Brownie Day—It is a true treat to work with you.”

December 11 | "International Mountain Day" | So many ideas for great fun today - Purchase Mountain Bars with a note "Ain't No Mountain Too High to Keep Me From Being Thankful For You." Have a Mountain Dew Bar for staff. (Note – have you seen all of the flavors they have?) Or pass out trail mix with a note to remind them "Wherever this mountain trail takes us in 2024, we are in it together."

December 12 | “National Poinsettia Day” | Purchase small poinsettias to decorate classrooms and office spaces. Need some team collaboration opportunities? Well, December 12 is also Gingerbread House Day!!! If you have a staff meeting, have a team competition or leave a couple kits out in the lunch room and encourage staff to build them. Have a competition between your different lunches.

December 13 | “National Cocoa Day” | Solicit your Leadership Club or PTO to create a hot cocoa bar full of toppings and flavors. Don’t forget the candy canes and marshmallows.

December 14 | “Monkey Day” | Enjoy some monkey business today and start off with a breakfast of muffins, bananas, and coffee for staff. Have a few games in the staff room to play during lunch time such as Barrel of Monkeys.

December 15 | It's another cupcake celebration day with “National Cupcake Day”. | This is for every flavor of cupcakes, so you know how this works. Pick some up, maybe have some sprinkles or toppings available for staff to add. December 15 is also “International Tea Day”. Borrow a few water warming pots and have a tea bar available for this cold winter day AND National Ugly Sweater Day!!! A great opportunity to show your style.

December 18 | "Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day" | "What is your favorite color?"

December 19 |  “National Hard Candy Day” | As staff leave for winter break, give them a roll of Life Savers candies. Thank them for being a “Life Saver” during this ever crazy season.

December 21 | “National Flashlight Day” | Head lamps for everyone - lunch or reading by flashlights. You can play “Flashlight” by Funkadelic from your Jammy Pack—A Cromwell Household Favorite!!! It is also "National Crossword Puzzle Day" if you want a calmer activity. Provide various crossword puzzles to staff for a competition.

December 22 | “National Cookie Exchange Day” | No better way to end this week than with cookies and an exchange of favorites.

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Cindy is in her 23rd year as a school administrator. She is currently the principal of Kelso Virtual Academy and Loowit Alternative High School within the Kelso School District in Kelso, Washington. Cindy has been recognized by the National Association of Secondary School Principals as the 2021 National Digital Principal of the Year. She has two teenagers and has been married to her husband, Leszek for 23 years. Find her on Twitter @sholtys.

These Four Leaders Are Moving The Needle For Kids Every Day

OLYMPIA — The Association of Washington School Principals is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of the Washington State Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year awards: Dr. William Jackson, Secondary Principal of the Year; Heidi Fagerness, Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year; Cathy Sork, Elementary Principal of the Year; and Dr. Nick Davies, Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year. These distinguished leaders epitomize excellence in educational leadership within the state, serving as exemplary leaders for their peers, students, and communities.

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Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year

Dr. William Jackson, Nathan Hale High School, Seattle Public Schools

 

Dr. William Jackson, principal at Nathan Hale High School in Seattle Public Schools, was named the 2024 Washington State Secondary Principal of the Year. Jackson will also be recognized nationally by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). He will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Principal of the Year award.

Jackson has been a school leader for seven years and leads with his strong belief that “honoring the brilliance of [his] students by centering their voice in [the] curricular and school design is the justice-centered approach that leads to high engagement in learning, and strong academic outcomes.” It is clear he is highly respected in his school, district, and community as he received a record-breaking number of nominations from each. Nominations included phrases such as “transformational leadership”, “connector of people”, “loved and admired”, and “deserves to be recognized with this great honor.” His supervisor, Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools Dr. Brent Jones, affirmed Jackson “has a clear vision of how to systemically build climate for equity, justice, and academic outcomes” and that he leads with humbleness, intentionality, and steadfastness resulting in “bold outcomes.” 

Dr. Jackson will be recognized and celebrated in Washington, D.C., next year.

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Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year

Heidi Fagerness, Chehalis Middle School, Chehalis School District

 

Heidi Fagerness, assistant principal at Chehalis Middle School in the Chehalis School District, was named the 2024 Washington State Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year. Fagerness will also be recognized nationally by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), where she will compete with winners from other states for the NASSP’s National Assistant Principal of the Year award, announced in early April. 

Fagerness has been in education for 32 years and is in her fifth year as assistant principal at Chehalis Middle School. She shows up every day with the “intention of serving others through [her] head, hands, and heart.” It is clear Fagerness recognizes the great work she’s doing is a team effort. In response to the award she stated, “It isn’t just me, it’s us. I really, truly believe that.” Chehalis Middle School principal Chris Simpson, who nominated her, describes Fagerness as “highly effective in promoting and creating a positive culture at CMS.” The cheers and hugs handed out at the surprise announcement with staff are a testament to that positive school culture.

In July, Fagerness will be honored at the National Principals Conference with winners from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Department of Defense Education Activity, and the U.S. Department of State Office of Overseas Schools. 

Watch Heidi's Video

 

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Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year

Cathy Sork, Dorothy Fox Elementary School, Camas School District

 

Cathy Sork, principal at Dorothy Fox Elementary School in the Camas School District, was named the 2024 Washington State Elementary Principal of the Year. Sork will also be recognized nationally by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), with winners from other states as one of NAESPs National Distinguished Principals.

Sork has been principal for seventeen years at Dorothy Fox, with a total of twenty-four years in educational leadership. One of the best parts of her job is she gets “to have relationships with students and help them to grow, laugh, stretch, and move toward a bright future.” Colleague and mentee of Sork’s, Kristie Wall, believes she “embodies the best of our profession, modeling student-first leadership,” and it is clear she is highly thought of by her staff as they gasped in awe as they heard she had won this award.

Next fall, Sork will be honored in Washington, D.C., as part of the National Distinguished Principal of the Year program, sponsored by NAESP in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education. All state winners participate in a series of events and activities over the course of two days, culminating in a formal awards banquet. There is no national winner at the elementary level.

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Washington State Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year

Dr. Nick Davies, Ogden and Eisenhower Elementary Schools, Vancouver Public Schools

 

Dr. Nick Davies, assistant principal at both Ogden and Eisenhower Elementary Schools in Vancouver Public Schools, was named the 2024 Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year. In addition, he will represent Washington as our state’s winner of the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) National Outstanding Assistant Principal award. NAESP recognizes one winner from each state every year.

Dr. Davies has been an assistant principal for four years and shows up every day with the purpose of having “a positive impact on people’s lives so that they can become the best they are capable of becoming”, and he shares his educational leadership knowledge with others as a writer of widely published articles. A parent who nominated Dr. Davies described him as “an approachable and humble community leader by encouraging and engaging his staff and students to create a thriving environment for all.” One nomination stated Davies is “the most respectful, humble, and hard-working school administrator we have ever interacted with.”

In July, Dr. Davies will attend the NAESP 2024 UNITED Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where he will be recognized for his achievement. 

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Learn More

• Download the PDF press release.
• Learn more about the Principal of the Year program.
• Learn more about the Assistant Principal of the Year program.
• View a list of past winners.

Hello, fellow school leaders. We recently wrapped up a great two-day meeting at the Crowne Plaza in SeaTac, WA, where the Elementary Grade-Level Leadership Committee came together for some meaningful discussions and shared experiences.

On our first day, we got reacquainted with returning members and got to meet some new leaders excited to join us. We delved into the central theme of fostering joy within the learning environment, drawing inspiration from Emily and Amelia Nagoski's book "Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle." Engaging in various discussion techniques, we encouraged collaborative learning and open dialogue.

What truly struck a chord with us was our conversation about hope. We discussed our roles in nurturing hope within our schools, and it was heartening to hear that for many of us, the support of this group had been instrumental in their journey as principals. It truly underscored the significance of our shared mission and the power of collective support.

Moving to day two, we delved into the pressing issue of attendance with the middle-level and high-school GLLCs with a presentation with OSPI for the whole group. Afterward, each GLLC had a representative from OSPI to discuss the implications across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Our discussions highlighted the nuanced challenges and emphasized the need for tailored strategies and comprehensive support systems.

During the weekend, we also emphasized the importance of cultivating a positive and inclusive school culture, one that fosters a sense of belonging among students and staff alike. Reflecting on our current school culture and envisioning an ideal one, we found ourselves inspired to fortify the bonds within our educational communities further.

In essence, our time together was a testament to the crucial role of human connection and mutual support within our professional journey. We left the meeting feeling inspired and determined to continue fostering an environment where every member feels valued and empowered.

A heartfelt thank you to all the participants for their invaluable contributions and to AWSP for providing us with an opportunity to learn, connect, and reflect with our peers from across the state.

So, how would you improve TPEP?

AWSP and WASA are excited to share the latest opportunity for our two associations to partner in support of Washington’s education leaders and the students we serve. We want to hear your thoughts and suggestions about TPEP!

AWSP and WASA are privileged to hold seats on the OSPI TPEP Steering Committee. To ensure we accurately articulate the desires of our members relating to evaluating teachers, principals, and assistant principals, both associations are launching the Thought Exchange prompt to gather ideas and suggestions from you:

What modifications could be made to TPEP in an effort to have a meaningful, yet manageable evaluation system?

This Thought Exchange prompt will be available through Thursday, November 30, 2023. After we close the response window, we’ll share a summary of the results from each association’s membership with the TPEP Steering Committee. 

We are optimistic this feedback, along with information shared from WEA and ESDs, will seed conversations that, in time, will lead to a TPEP system that is both manageable and meaningful for all.

Check out the link here to get started on this Thought Exchange. You will find this platform very easy to use.  We encourage you to submit as many ‘thoughts’ as you want. Please enter each TPEP thought/suggestion separately. The cool thing about Thought Exchange is that you rate all the thoughts others submit. You can return to this Thought Exchange as many times as you would like to continue to rate other submissions. Sharing your thoughts will take about 5 minutes of your time, and we want to thank you in advance for sharing your voice AND your thoughts on how TPEP can be modified to make it a powerful evaluation tool for you, and your teachers.

If you have any questions about Thought Exchange, or TPEP in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at AWSP!  AWSP and WASA realize that everyone must be evaluated, and we hope the process is centered around professional growth and collaboration. We believe a growth-focused evaluation system plays a critical role in advancing our collective commitment to equity and excellence in student learning.

Share Your Thoughts

If you need technical help, please call ThoughtExchange at 1-800-361-9027 ext. 4 or email help@thoughtexchange.com.

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Watch the Announcement Video

 

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Read the Script

Hello, and welcome back to AWSP News. As we close out National Principals Month, I have a few updates to share with you. First, I want to say thank you to all the amazing principals and APs who engaged with us on social media and through email during this month celebrating YOU. As a refresher, our prompts were:

 

• What’s your theme or focus for this school year?

• Who is one person who has had a major impact on your school leadership career? 

• What’s the funniest or strangest thing that’s happened to you at school? And, 

• What’s the piece of advice you live by as a school leader? 

You can find some of those answers on our social media, but you’ll also see some of our favorites pop up on our blog before long. 

What else will you find on our blog soon? How about some information about the 2024 Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year? And they are…

• Nick Davies, Elementary Assistant Principal of the Year at Lake Shore Elementary in the Vancouver School District

• Heidi Fagerness, Secondary Assistant Principal of the Year from Chehalis Middle School in the Chehalis School District

• Cathy Sork, Elementary Principal of the Year from Dorothy Fox Elementary in the Camas School District

• Dr. William Jackson, Secondary Principal of the Year from Nathan Hale High School in Seattle Public Schools

Join me in congratulating all four of those outstanding school leaders. While we’re able to recognize the four of them, there aren’t enough awards to acknowledge each of you for all you do to support students across the state. However, we can share how grateful we are for all of you as we shift into November. 

Not only is November a great time to practice and share gratitude, but it’s also our Fall Forum on November 14th. Join us via Zoom to connect and learn what your grade-level leadership committee representatives are up to. We love seeing new faces, connecting with our members, and taking your stories to the policymakers and legislators who need to hear them. More on that in a minute, but for now, go ahead and hit pause. Head over to learn.awsp.org and register for the Fall Forum in the AWSP Learning Lab, where you’ll soon find a new on-demand course to help you lead conversations around the new student growth goals for teachers. 

Now, back to the legislators and policymaker piece. Not only is November the time for pumpkin pie, warm apple cider, sweats, and the Apple Cup, but perhaps even more anticipated, the release of our legislative platform. Relax, people, it is important, but that was a joke. What’s on our platform this year? 

• Increased funding for administrative internships

• Immediate and centralized support for school leaders around behavior and discipline; instructional models, pathways, and academic success; and TPEP

• Updating some existing laws to strengthen your employment provisions

• Increased funding for school leaders in the prototypical funding formula, and 

• Trying to fix the funding gap and ensure principal pay keeps up with the raises teachers have seen. 

You can find our Legislative Platform on our website. Be on the lookout soon for how you can advocate to support you, your peers, and your students during the upcoming session. 

Thanks again for all you do. The work you do leaves a forever impact. From all of us here at AWSP, and our foundation family of AWSL, Cispus, and Outdoor Schools Washington, keep up the great work for kids. See you next time. 

November is the Month of Giving Thanks 

As you can probably tell I LOVE to celebrate and show appreciation for people in my life. I believe passionately it is critical to have a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving. November is the perfect month to spend time thinking of the things or people that make you smile. Thank YOU for supporting me by reading this newsletter and sending me your pictures or email about how you are implementing the ideas. I LOVE hearing from you. Thank you for what you do for the students, staff, and families you serve each and everyday. I BELIEVE in you and am cheering for you!! Feel free to reach out and find me on X/Twitter at @sholtys.  

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A Few of My November Favorites

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November Days to Celebrate

November 1 | Celebrates two awesome literacy days. It is not only National Authors’ Day but also National Family Literacy Day. | There are so many ways to celebrate today with not only your staff but students and families. Have you thought about doing a bedtime story via Facebook? This might be a great time to try. How about asking staff who their favorite author is and displaying it on a board? OR have staff choose a book from your library with their favorite author and put them on display for the week.

November 1 | National Stress Awareness Day | It is November, and we are all under an intense amount of stress no matter the role in education. If your district has mental health support or assistance for staff, this would be a day to remind staff of the resources available for them and their families, especially as the holidays approach, the winter weather starts, and fewer hours of sunlight are available.

November 3 | National Sandwich Day | Look for great deals on sandwiches at Subway, Costco, and Jimmy John’s, along with your community sandwich shop. Bring in a platter of sandwiches for lunch or an afternoon snack. Ask your PTO to provide decorations to beautify the staff room (flowers, music).

November 6 | National Nachos Day | Chips, Salsa, and Cheese, anyone? There are also Nacho Lunchables you can provide as a mid-morning treat for staff.

November 8 | National STEM/STEAM Day | Celebrate your STEM and STEAM Programs today. Share job opportunities, programs, and famous individuals and their contributions to our world.

November 10 | National Vanilla Cupcake Day | How easy is this one? You could also purchase frosted vanilla cupcakes and have a decoration bar available for staff/students to finish the final touches on their creations.

November 13 | National Hug a Musician Day | Provide your music teachers with a bag of Hersey Hugs to celebrate this special day and acknowledge their dedication is also “World Kindness Day.” This is a great day to encourage your students to do a random act of kindness for someone. Have them post their accomplishments using social media. Don’t forget to have participants use their school hashtag to promote school pride.

November 14 | Pickle Day | I just have to include this “unique” day as everyone (but me and the cats) in my home LOVE pickles. If you need to send a thank you card today, you could buy a small jar of pickles with a note that says, “Thank you for helping me out of a pickle.” I will actually be doing this for a few staff.

November 15 | National Clean Out Your Fridge Day | When was the last time your staff fridge was cleaned out? Use this day to encourage staff to throw out their expired treats.

November 17 | National Hiking Day | Physical Education can come alive for your families today. Have staff, students, or families take pictures today while going on a walk. Combine the pictures into a collage to share on your school’s social media account.

November 20 | Future Teachers of America Day | A day to celebrate the greatest profession of all time. Ask staff to share why they became a teacher. You could make a video of the answers and share it with your families or play Guess Who at your next staff meeting.

November 21 | This day is both National Gingerbread Cookie Day and National Stuffing Day | Swing by the store and pick up some cookies or boxes of Stove Top Stuffing. Include a note that says, “I sure am thankful for all the ‘stuff’ you do every day to take care of our students. Happy National Stuffing Day.”

November 28 | National French Toast Day | Invite staff to join you for a before-school breakfast at a diner. (Everyone pays for their own meal). Break bread to celebrate this day and start your morning with your staff.

November 30 | National Mason Jar Day | Fill mason jars with special treats to provide staff. OR one of my favorites — purchase mason jars and solar lids with an LED string of lights. (Check out Amazon for the set). Put the lights in the jar and hand them out to the staff. This can serve as a reminder of the light they are to others. Be creative and have fun with a simple and heartfelt message.