School funding plan won’t wait
It is now time to let your voices be heard. We can’t afford to delay. The final recommendations of the Basic Education Finance Task Force are included in House Bill 1410 and its companion, Senate Bill 5444. These recommendations could result in some of the most profound changes to our state’s education system.
Some reasons I support these bills are: (1) raises the bar by requiring 24 credits to graduate high school as opposed to the current 19, allowing more exposure to the arts, civics, math and sciences; (2) instead of the myriad of different funding formulas that no one fully understands, this new funding system greatly improves the ability of all stakeholders to make the best decisions to improve student learning; (3) creates a new compensation system for teachers that would be based on their skills and responsibilities to earn a professional-level salary and not on attaining a master’s or Ph.D.
Check out why you should support HB 1410 and SB 5444; go to www.leg.wa.gov and click on the “bills” tab. While you are there, let your legislators know you are in support of these bills. Our children deserve a world-class education, and if not now, when?
DeeDee Loberg
Spokane Valley