Ranker Met with School Administrators to Improve, Enhance Education

— from Senator Kevin Ranker’s Office —

This week, Sen. Kevin Ranker, D- Orcas Island, met with administrators from Anacortes, Bellingham, Burlington-Edison, Lopez, Mount Vernon, Orcas Island, San Juan Island, and Shaw Island school districts to discuss the impacts of HB 2422, the state’s next step in committing more state dollars to K-12 education. Sen. Ranker released this statement on the important insight gained from school administrators and the impacts and challenges local schools face:

“While the state has made a historic investment in our children’s education, we see a need for more flexibility at the local level to meet the unique challenges of each community. We know every homeowner statewide now faces the massive Republican property tax increase this January, possibly hampering school districts’ abilities to pass local levies and fully fund our children’s education.

“Many schools rely on additional teachers, staff, and supportive services along with the local support and control of programs. We must find solutions to mitigate any mistakes or gaps within the new education package passed by the legislature.

“The insight and ideas provided by school districts, teachers, and communities are immensely important to the legislature’s work. The more the entire legislature hears from every community, we can continue to improve, enhance and support the services and opportunities for every child in every community.

“When we return to Olympia, we will need to work aggressively, and in a bipartisan manner, to ensure the Republican property tax increase is managed or reduced, and provide the critical resources for our children’s education that is more equitable to all of Washington’s citizens.”