Dolan and Davenport’s Kowalkowski on panel to recommend school finance plan…

There are a couple of local names on Gov. Chris Gregoire’s newly named school finance task force.

One is Laurie Dolan, a Spokane Public Schools veteran who now works as Gregoire’s policy director.

The other is jim Kowalkowski, superintendent of the Davenport School District and executive director of Washington State University’s Rural Education Center.

The two are part of a 14-member task force — five appointed by Gregoire — that will “look at ways to implement a new, comprehensive financing formula for kindergarten through 12th grade education that supports proven education practices and connects money to accountability and results.” Deadline: December 2008, a month after the next gubernatorial election.