2017 WSSDA Legislative Priorities 2nd Reading

2017 WSSDA Legislative Priorities 2ndreading and consideration for adoption as presented.

WSSDA WSSDA 2017 Legislative 2017 Legislative Assembly Assembly Priorities Priorities Total of 62 Proposals 14 are from previous years 2013, 2015, and 2016 have been moved up to Standing Legislative Positions (SLP s). Considered important or universally accepted by school directors. They do not need to be reintroduced every year. Remain on the WSSDA Legislative Agenda until they have been amended or eliminated through legislation. Been vetted and submitted by WSSDA s Legislative Committee.

Standing Legislative Positions (SLPs) 3 Proposal Highlights under those 14: Learning, Teaching, Governance, Funding and Allocations (State funding, apportionment, and Levies) Fully funding of McCleary Item NBR 8 - Changing of School Bond Approval requirements from a super majority of 60% to a simple majority of 50% plus 1 Item NBR 14 - Levy Rollbacks WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation which would ensure that no district loses levy authority if the district s apportionment/budgets are decreased by the state. Districts should be held harmless for at least a two-year period.

Example of three current SLPs 7.1.20 Forest Revenue Apportionment Withholding WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation preventing the State from withholding monies from the State s monthly apportionment in the amount equal to state forest revenue or to the federal forest fees received by school districts from the federal government. (Adopted 2013) 7.1.12 Full Funding of Basic Education WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation that fully funds and implements all aspects of Washington s redefined program of Basic Education as outlined in ESHB 2261. (Adopted 2012)

7.1.16 School Construction 7.1.16 School Construction WSSDA supports ample provision for school construction through state policies that: Fund school construction needs when districts are determined eligible. Maintain a reliable system of funding that supports adequate planning at the local level. Provide specific sources of revenue to support and enhance state trust revenue. Give highest priority to projects that address un-housed student needs, either through new construction or remodeling. Allocate square footage to meet current and future program needs with square feet per student at least meeting the national average. Fund actual construction costs including mandated green building costs. Fund construction costs resulting from new legislation and changes in class size or graduation requirements. Allow limited improvement of not more than 10 percent of the current value of the facility, such as energy retrofits, in existing facilities without requiring a review and/or upgrade of the entire building to meet current codes in other areas; and, Equalize funding for modernization of existing school facilities in lieu of abandonment and new construction. (Adopted 2001; Amended 2008 and 2015)

The next two groups The next two groups - - Amendments and eliminations to SLP s. There are 6 Amendments and eliminations to SLP s. There are 6 that are being amended and 1 being eliminated. that are being amended and 1 being eliminated. 20. 7.7.1 Tax Reform WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation to implement a comprehensive, attainable, stable and sustainable funding plan for education in Washington State. In order to reduce redundancy among SLP s; the Legislative Committee combined 2 current SLP s into 1. All of which were vetted and then submitted by the WSSDA Legislative Committee

Regular Calendar Regular Calendar Positions put forward by school districts or the Legislative Committee for consideration by the Assembly for WSSDA s Legislative Agenda 2017 37 in this category - Topics range from Learning, teaching, governance, funding and allocations, construction and transportation funding. Hot Topic Fully Fund Facilities for Mandated Class Size Reduction. (With the currently required 60% majority required to pass school construction bonds, a growing number of districts are unable to access the matching funds needed to qualify to receive K-3 class-size reduction grants. This position advocates that the state fully fund any requirements related to class-size reduction mandates.).

Item NBR 50 Item NBR 50 - - Hold State State Funding. Funding. Hold Harmless While the State Transitions from Levy to Harmless While the State Transitions from Levy to Levy Equalization Funding and Formulas Use of Levy Funds for Non-Basic Education Programs Fiscal Notes and Unfunded Mandates CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: Item NBR 58 - State Sales Tax Offset Dedicated to a School Construction Fund Recommendation: DO PASS Submitted by: Legislative Committee Introduced in: 2016 WSSDA shall initiate and/or support legislation that creates a new state account that would be funded in an amount equal to state sales taxes collected from school districts for construction project costs and to be used to provide capital construction funding for school districts.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 1. This change will impact every school district in the state making it easier to access capital construction funds and lessening the impact to the tax payers in our school districts who are being taxed twice. By dedicating taxes paid into a school construction fund, communities won t have to pass bonds as often or for as much. Tax payers will know their tax for the bond tax is being used to support schools. 2. Districts face an extraordinary burden when they attempt to pass a bond measure which requires a 60% approval rating to pass. Many districts have not been able to do so and therefore have limited ability to access state funding for school construction that is unlocked with the passage of a bond. The funds in this dedicated account would be accessible regardless of the passage of a bond. 3. Sub-standard school buildings are present across Washington State. By dedicating the sales taxes paid by school districts into a fund for school construction, it will make it a bit easier to address that problem and give students the buildings needed for 21st Century learning.

Other Other This presentation, WSSDA Legislative Proposals, and the Agenda for the Legislative Assembly are posted in our OneNote Files. Documents are available to the Public. Motion to accept WSSDA Legislative Proposals as presented. WSSDA Legislative Assembly is scheduled for the 23rd& 24thSEPT in Spokane.