Schools Chief Bestows B+ On Lawmakers

Tue., March 12, 1996

Carla K. Johnson Staff writer

State Schools Superintendent Judith Billings gave Washington lawmakers a “B-plus” during a briefing Monday on the 1996 legislative session.

Billings gave legislators high marks for approving a supplemental budget that included $54.7 million for a high-technology communications system for public schools and colleges.

The Legislature also restored some money cut from education last year, Billings said.

Money was reinstated for summer school at the Spokane Vocational Skills Center and seven other skills centers, and conflict-resolution training and teacher training offered through educational service districts.

Billings, who was in Lacey, Wash., spoke to educators in a statewide teleconference Monday. About 15 school officials listened and watched in Spokane.

New laws affecting schools include an amendment requiring school employees hired before 1992 to be finger-printed for criminal background checks before July 31, 1999.

A previous law called for fingerprinting only new school employees. The change extends the background checks to all school workers who have contact with children.

Dwayne Slate, a lobbyist for the state school boards association, said the 1996 Legislature was more cordial to education than it was last year.

Slate credited school officials’ meetings with lawmakers for the friendlier mood.

Inviting legislators into schools and informing them of school issues prevented them from relying “on what they’re hearing on ‘hot-talk’ radio,” Slate said.

, DataTimes

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