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-- from Janet Brownell -- The Orcas Island Education Foundation is launching a new fundraising campaign: the ONE ARM TIED BEHIND YOUR BACK challenge. The WA state constitution says: “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference
Minimum Education Plan set at April Board Meeting -- by Margie Doyle -- Although Orcas Island School District's (OISD) finances now look healthy, on the near horizon looms a minefield of threats to a balanced budget. The declining enrollment figures, inadequate state funding, removal of levy funding and structured salary increases make the prospect for
-- from Rick Manugian, Sen. Ranker's Office -- Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-Orcas Island, issued the following statement today [February 26, 2016] following the Senate’s passage of the 2016 supplemental operating budget. “Traditional bipartisan negotiations on the budget were suspended last week, when the tally was still in the red, so final cuts were decided without
-- by Tom James for Crosscut.com -- Washington schools superintendent Randy Dorn says he is putting together a legal move to force action on the state’s McCleary obligation to pay for improving public schools. Although the exact shape of the legal action was unclear, Dorn referred to it at one point as a lawsuit. “I
-- from the League of Women Voters, Ann Murphy, President, Jasmine Karpelman, Newsletter Editor -- 2016 Legislative Session Overview Jan. 10, 2017 --During this short, 60-day, session, a major focus of the legislature will be on education and the revenue needed to meet the requirements of the McCleary lawsuit to provide ample funding for education.
--Some noteworthy events -- All in all, 2015 was a very good year, especially for the uptick in southern-resident killer whales born -- eight new calves born since Dec. 30 2014, bringing the number to 85. New whale in J pod. Photo by Dave Eliff And we had more than our share of
-- by Margie Doyle -- The San Juan County Council will next meet on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 and after a year of achievements, Council Member Rick Hughes foresees a "big infrastructure year ahead." Some of the projects ready for the shovel next year are: the Prune Alley streetscape plan for stormwater, curbs, sidewalks and
Monday, Nov. 16 from noon to 2 p.m. at the San Juan Island Library, Friday Harbor -- from the League of Women Voters San Juan Islands (LWV SJs) -- 40th Legislative District Representative Kris Lytton will be the speaker at the upcoming membership meeting of the League of Women Voters of the San Juans. The
-- from Tony P Ghazel, OISD Board Vice Chair; WSSDA Legislative Committee Chair -- The Washington Supreme Court continues to be dissatisfied with the legislature’s continual failure to comply with the court’s order to have a complete plan to fully fund education by 2018. The court, a few days ago, imposed a $100,000 fine for every day the legislature fails
-- from Aaron Wasser, Senator Rankin's Office -- I was not surprised by today’s decision. The issue at the very heart of the McCleary Decision is that the state, not local school districts, must pay for teacher salaries. While we made positive steps in other areas of education funding, we failed to fix this one.