Communicating for the future of public education

Pretty much any decision made by our state, on anything, our legislation spends a lot of time in Olympia bouncing things from the House of Representatives to meetings in the Senate, back to meetings and round and round it goes until there is a vote and then they vote again on the other side of the building. But no matter what, it either lives of dies on the Hill. I spent the weekend with Public Schools Employees, around 400, as we met with representatives and senators from every district and spoke to them about we see happening in our schools.

The platform is simple: Fund what you said you would, and please take a look at this. Sounds easy, but we spent the first day learning about the issues and how to represent each district. You have about five minutes to speak with a representative or senator from your district and state your concerns or platforms.

The first meeting on Sunday morning was with Representative Joe Schmick, of District 9. Karrie and I were one of the small group of classified employees to meet with him and share our stories. Karrie, being the PSE support staff of the year, used her platform to tell her story of students in rural schools needing more social and psychological support to cope with the issues they are dealing with everyday. Others spoke of paraprofessional certification, health insurance, prototypical schools models, safety, and continued funding from the McCleary Decision. Representative Schmick listened and gave us advice when speaking with other politicians. He then took us on the floor of the Capitol building and posed for a picture with us.

Next stop, Representative Mike Steele. Mr. Steele is well versed in education. He has been working with PSE, much like Mr. Schmick, for many years. I told him my story and then led him down the path of funding for para education, the new health insurance proposal, and school safety. But where we spent most of our time was on how they handed out the McCleary decision and how it put a gaping rift in school districts across Eastern Washington and the rest of the state. I reminded him of how the new Lake Roosevelt School was built entirely by state funding because we did not have the tax base to fund it. Again, we are sitting in the same spot with low taxable monies being negotiated, causing our future outcome to look all red on the budget line. He listened and took notes. Afterward, he thanked us for coming and moved on to his next meeting. So did we.

We met with Keith Goehner, the brand-new rep from Chelan. More of the same: us talking, him listening. Then on to Brad Hawkins, the only senator with whom we had an appointment. Mr. Hawkins was busy, but we met with two of his aides, who judiciously took notes and said they would present this all in their next staff meeting later that day.

All in all, it was a whirlwind of a day, and I got a small taste of what the government looks like and feels like on a day-to-day basis. I was advised by them all to stay in contact through email, and I plan to do so. I also encourage you to do the same. These men and women work for you. Tell them what is happening in your neck of the woods. What’s important to you? Let them know. They want to hear from you.

I do not consider myself a politician, but I do consider myself a communicator. On this day, I had the ear of four men in a position to make great changes to keep our students safer, educate them better and support the ones around them a little more. I believe they wanted the same things I did and they will fight to get it. Not for me or for them, but for every student who goes through a school in Washington state.