Northshore PTSA, Union, Foundation, Meeting on Washington’s Underfunded Schools

The Northshore Council PTSA, Northshore Schools Foundation, and the Northshore Education Association are holding a public forum on the state of school funding on Jan. 30 at Canyon Park Junior High in Bothell.

The meeting comes in the wake of the by the state as outlined in the state constitution. The ruling gave lawmakers until 2018 to implement education reforms.

The union sent a letter to district parents Tuesday via email. Here is the letter:

Dear Northshore Parent,

It’s no secret that public schools in Washington state are underfunded. Washington’s schools are the third WORST in the country for class size. As parents and teachers, we see the effects of underfunding on our students on a daily basis here in Northshore. 

Jacob Crouch, English Teacher at Bothell High School explains that his students are missing out of individualized instruction. “The main resource my students are doing without is my time. I currently teach 3 Advanced Placement-level classes with 35 students each. The College Board recommends no more than 24. It is extremely difficult—if not impossible—to give each student the individualized instruction they need to meet the high expectations of this class.”

Jaime Clarke, 3rd Grade Teacher at Kenmore Elementary states, “Students are missing out on the more focused small group instruction we were able to provide when Northshore had Initiative 728 (funding for smaller class sizes), and Reading Specialist Teachers.”

Underfunding is a fact. The Washington State Supreme Court issued a decision on January 5 that State funding for our schools is not just bad, it’s unconstitutional. This history-making lawsuit was brought by a coalition of school districts, parents, and teacher associations, including the Northshore School District and the Northshore Education Association.  

So what’s next? Will the Legislature now fund our schools and students with the resources needed? We wish. But after cuts of $2.6 billion over the past four years, additional cuts of about $250 million have already been proposed for next year.     

YOU can make a difference! Here are two things you can do:

1. Please come to the upcoming forum on school funding, co-sponsored by the Northshore Education Association and the Northshore PTSA:

FACT: Our Schools Are Underfunded. What underfunding means in Northshore and what we can do to fix it.

Monday, January 30, 2012  
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Canyon Park Junior High Library (Directions are available here)

Presenters will include Northshore teachers, paraeducators and principals

2. Please contact your Legislators now:

Please tell them, “No more cuts to K-12 schools. Follow the State Constitution.  Fund our children and our future.” To find your legislators, or their email addresses, go tohttp://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Together, we can keep Northshore great. Thank you! Here is a link to a summary of the historic Washington State Supreme Court Decision:  http://www.waschoolexcellence.org/. 

Tim Brittell, President

Northshore Education Association

www.northshoreea.blogspot.com