Ex-treasurer to head task force

OLYMPIA – Former state Treasurer Dan Grimm, a longtime legislative budget leader, will head a new state Task Force on Basic Education Funding.

The 14-member panel was created by Gov. Chris Gregoire and the 2007 Legislature to develop a stable and adequate financing system for state aid to education. Preliminary ideas are expected next year, but a final report isn’t due until 2009, after the next election.

Gregoire appointed Grimm as chairman and named four other members. Republican and Democratic legislators also will serve on the commission, along with state School Chief Terry Bergeson.

Grimm is well known in Olympia circles and has been touted as a candidate for state school superintendent. He said recently that he’s not a candidate. Bergeson, a three-term incumbent, has not announced her plans.

Grimm is president of the Washington State Historical Society and is director of Doughty Hanson PLC, a private equity firm based in Europe.

Gregoire also appointed:

“Cheryl Chow, chairwoman of the Seattle School Board.

“Bette Hyde, superintendent of the Bremerton School District who also served as an adviser to the Washington Learns education reform panel.

“Jim Kowalkowski, superintendent of the Davenport School District and executive director of the Rural Education Center at Washington State University.

“Laurie Dolan, the governor’s executive policy director and a longtime employee of Spokane Public Schools.

Gregoire said her appointees “represent financial expertise, leadership and frontline experience developing budgets. Most important, they represent small, medium and large school districts, which are important perspectives as we craft school funding systems for the entire state.”