HotlinewasaOctober 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

STAY CURRENT:

From the Executive Director

• URGE LEGISLATORS TO COMPLY WITH MCCLEARY . . . 2

• SPOTLIGHT ON A WASA DIAMOND LEVEL SPONSOR: HILL INTERNATIONAL . . . . . . . 2

• ARE YOU CONNECTED TO WASA? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

• WASHINGTON EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• FOCUS ON EDUCATION . . . . . . 3

• UPCOMING CONFERENCES & WORKSHOPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• SIRS SALARY SURVEY TIMELINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

• THE PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR STANDARDS BOARD ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF THE EDUCATOR RETOOLING CONDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM . . . 4

• WASHINGTON ENGAGE: PROTECTING OUR YOUTH FROM SEX TRAFFICKING . . . . 4

• BILL’S BLOG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

• WELCOME NEW MEMBERS . . 5

• SAVE THE DATE . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

• UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON STATE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY . . . . . 6

• AASA NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION—LEADING FOR EXCELLENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

• SLICE OF WASHINGTON: OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE ENGAGES STUDENTS IN INNOVATIVE WAYS . . . . . . . . . 6

• WANT TO SHARE A SLICE? . . . . 6

• REGION EVENTS—OCTOBER & NOVEMBER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Bill Keim WASA Executive

Director

Being a leader is more challenging during times of dramatic change. This fall has certainly been such a time for school district leaders around the state. It’s hard to recall a back-to-school season with more significant upheaval. Yet, in the midst of those challenges, most schools opened on time and quickly returned to the

core job of teaching and learning. Please take a moment in the midst of your busy days to feel good about that often unheralded accomplishment.

The current bargaining climate is one of the challenges impacting the start of the new school year. Thus far, there have been three strikes with many more narrowly averted. Given the number of school districts still involved in difficult negotiations, we may still see more strikes this fall. Not only is the number of districts involved unique, it’s the first time in at least fifteen years that a strike occurred after students started school. While the WEA will likely disavow any role in orchestrating these events, there certainly seems to be anecdotal evidence to the contrary.

Another growing challenge facing school leaders is the scarcity of applicants to fill various teaching vacancies. While this hasn’t been an issue for every district, it has been a problem all around the state. Just as the substitute shortage that emerged last fall was an early indicator of a teacher shortage, the hiring problems this fall could well indicate bigger problems in the future. Both OSPI and the Professional Educator Standards Board are implementing strategies to address the teacher shortage, but any fix to this pipeline is likely going to take time.

On top of those two significant changes, the State Supreme Court imposed a $100,000 per day contempt fine on the state, and in a separate ruling, declared the 2012 Charter School Initiative as unconstitutional. While there have been many critics of both decisions, their complaints sound a bit like a losing team blaming the referees for their loss. The underlying legal principles in both cases rely on our state’s strong constitutional language and previous state Supreme Court rulings that have interpreted its meaning. And while those who have violated these constitutional principles have vigorously complained, it’s been encouraging to see the Court stand up strongly for public education.

In addition to their impact on our schools, all of these events have something else in common. They are all rooted in our Legislature’s eroding support for public education during the three decades since the landmark Doran decision. Whether they come to the table willingly or are forced to do so by the Court, the Legislature is likely to implement big changes during the next few years in how our system of public education is funded. That overarching issue is the purpose of the upcoming Legislative Working/Listening Tour. This series of meetings has been presented as an opportunity to gather input from educational stakeholders around the state.

Most of the two hours dedicated for these meetings is devoted to a panel with local representatives selected by seven different educational associations. Through this link you can access: 1) the talking points we’ve developed in response to the questions that will be posed, 2) the schedule of these meetings along with the WASA panel representatives, and 3) a copy of the presentation that will be used to organize the meetings.

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Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!ARE YOU

CONNECTED TO WASA?

Spotlight on a WASA Diamond Level Sponsor: Hill International

Hill International is a worldwide construction consulting firm providing project management and construction management services to K–12 clients throughout the United States. Hill is consistently ranked among the top construction management firms by Engineering News Record (ENR) magazine.

As trusted construction consultants to educators worldwide, Hill offers an experienced multidisciplinary team of construction experts who are committed to meeting the unique needs of educational owners at every level. Hill offers comprehensive construction management services that maintain the highest standards of quality while delivering projects on time and within budget—without surprises.

When serving K–12 clients, the needs of local school boards and school districts vary widely, and Hill offers customized construction management services to meet each one. Some districts are grappling with explosive projected enrollment rates and the need to build new schools. Others are faced with the daunting task of renovating decades-old buildings to meet new safety, comfort, and technology standards. With the uncertainty of state aid, all districts need to find ways to achieve their goals at reasonable costs.

Hill continues to provide school districts in the state of Washington with a full range of services to assist districts with their Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) including program management, project and construction management, project controls, cost engineering, cost estimating, scheduling, constructability review, quality assurance, value engineering, document control, management information services, construction inspections, and FF&E management. Hill has worked with school districts from the earliest study and survey phase, through design, construction, closeout and start-up, and commissioning.

WASA is deeply appreciative of Hill International’s support of our members and our association.

We hope that you will be able to bring a district team to the session that is scheduled in your region. While the time to provide input during the meeting will be limited, they will accept written testimony from attendees. A packed room at each event is also critical to show how important these issues are to educators across the state. While that alone won’t create the change we seek, the absence of a crowd would definitely send the wrong message to our legislators.

Urge Legislators to Comply With McClearySince last fall, the Washington State Legislature has been in contempt of court for not complying with the Supreme Court’s orders in the McCleary education funding case. Having failed to purge the contempt order in the 2015 Legislative Session, the Court recently issued sanctions and encouraged Governor Inslee to call a Special Session to address the matter. The Court also agreed to vacate any penalties if a required funding plan was adopted during the Special Session. It appears unlikely, however, that a Special Session will be called.

Given the Legislature’s frustrating lack of action, the Network for Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS—the McCleary plaintiffs) drafted a sample resolution urging the Legislature to do what the Court has ordered. At the end of August, WASA disseminated the resolution to school district superintendents with an encouragement to ask their board to consider acting on the resolution. The sample resolution (along with back-up information) is available at http://bit.ly/1O18NuM.

WASA is compiling a list of districts that have adopted the resolution; if your board has acted, please send a copy to WASA (dsteele@wasa-oly.org), so you can be recognized. To date, we have been notified that the following districts have taken action:

AlmiraBainbridge IslandBethelChewelahColfaxDarringtonEatonvilleEdmondsEndicottEnumclawFranklin PierceGrangerKeller

Kettle FallsLindMedical LakeMercer IslandNapavineNorth KitsapNorth MasonOdessaOmakPalouseRaymondReardan-EdwallRitzville

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RochesterSheltonSt. JohnSnoqualmie ValleyThorpTumwaterWest Valley-SpokaneWilburWinlockNWESD 189NEWESD 101ESD 105

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Upcoming Conferences & Workshops

WASHINGTON EDUCATORS’ CONFERENCEwww.wasa-oly.org/WEC15

October 25–26, 2015 | Seattle Marriott Hotel, BellevueRegister now at www.wasa-oly.org/WEC15

Cosponsored by WASA, AWSP, OSPI, and WSASCD.

WASA/WSSDA/AWSP EQUITY SUMMIT

January 21–22, 2016 | Crowne Plaza, Seattle Airport

Save the Date! Housing and registration opens mid-October.

ERNN ANNUAL CONFERENCE

January 29–30, 2016 | Red Lion Hotel, Olympia

Registration opens November 4 at www.wasa-oly.org/ERNN16 (site under construction).

WASA/WSSDA/WASBO LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCEwww.wasa-oly.org/Leg16

January 31–February 1, 2016 | SPSCC & Capitol Campus, Olympia

Reserve your housing now. Registration opens November 9. Details available at www.wasa-oly.org/Leg16.

*New location! This year’s conference will be held at the South Puget Sound Community College.

WASA SMALL SCHOOLS CONFERENCE

March 14–15, 2016 | Wenatchee Convention Center, Wenatchee

Washington Educators’ Conference

There’s still time to register for the third annual Washington Educators’ Conference! Register now at www.wasa-oly.org/WEC15.

This conference is a collaboration between WASA, AWSP (lead agency this year), WSASCD, and OSPI. Together we’re better.

Keynoters and concurrent sessions will focus on powerful teaching, student success, evaluation, assessment, coaching, building culture, the Whole Child, and more. This year, concurrent session offerings are streamlined to maximize your time at the conference.

Preparation of survey forms: beginning October 2015Roll-out survey forms: January 4, 2016Deadline for return of completed forms: February 8, 2016Release data: March 30, 2016

SIRS SALARY SURVEY

TIMELINE

OSPI

WSASCD

WA

SAAW

SP

November 2015New Focus on Education talking points and a PowerPoint presentation are available on the WASA website at http://bit.ly/1IfXE92 for districts to use as they showcase the great learning taking place in their schools. WASA staff would like to attend some of the district events, so please let us know if you would like us to participate. We also post district Focus on Education materials on our website. If you have materials to share, please send them to Tricia McCosh at pmccosh@wasa-oly.org.

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See Executive Director Bill Keim’s post on the state’s low tax ranking; the editorial originally appeared in The Everett Daily Herald, and has been reposted with links to relevant data. The post can be found at http://billsblog-wasa.weebly.com. Bill updates his blog regularly, so check back often for association news, information on education issues, and education success stories.

BILL’SBLOG

Washington Engage: Protecting Our Youth From Sex TraffickingSex trafficking is a market-driven criminal industry based on supply and demand. Sadly, the demand is for youth. There are 100,000–300,000 children engaged in the sex trade in the U.S. (Polaris Project, 2014), and the average age of entry into the commercial sex industry is 14 to 17 years old (Ibid).

School administrators play a critical role in the prevention and the early intervention of sex trafficking in our schools. Washington Engage, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, offers schools anti-trafficking training for both youth and frontline professionals. With this two-pronged strategy, youth are educated and empowered to protect themselves, and staff is equipped to appropriately intervene in the victimization of a student.

Youth Education (Prevention)Providing youth education on the realities of sex trafficking—to question unusual behavior, establish safe boundaries, and stay safe on the Internet—equips youth with the tools to protect themselves. Washington Engage partners with schools to prevent youth trafficking using the Deceptions Program (program of Northwest Family Services), developed specifically for middle school students, though also suitable for high school.

Professional Training (Intervention)The Washington Engage anti-trafficking education program for frontline professionals provides training to identify and respond to a potentially trafficked student. Trust bonds between students and trained staff can then be a lifeline to escape a trafficker’s control, assure student safety, and provide direct links to community services.

For more information on the Washington Engage training programs, email training@waengage.com.

The Professional Educator Standards Board Announces Expansion of the Educator Retooling Conditional Scholarship ProgramThis program provides financial support (scholarships up to $3,000) to Washington State certified teachers who seek to add an endorsement in a subject or geographic shortage area. Until recently, this program covered math and science only, but the Legislature recently amended the law to expand this program to cover more shortage areas, as determined by the Professional Educator Standards Board.

Typical shortage areas include: Bilingual Education, Computer Science Education, English Language Learner, Environmental and Sustainability Education, Mathematics, Science, and Special Education. In addition, other shortage areas will also be considered, with all applications being evaluated based in part on the strength of their shortage evidence.

There are two application deadlines over the course of the year: January 8, 2016, and April 29, 2016. Awards will go out two to three weeks after the deadline.

For additional details, including eligibility criteria and application instructions, please visit PESB’s website at http://www.pesb.wa.gov/pesb-programs/ scholarships/retooling. If you have specific questions, feel free to contact the PESB at PESB@k12.wa.us.

Please spread the word to teachers, districts, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders who might be interested in taking advantage of this opportunity to help address critical shortage area needs.

Alexandra Manuel Director of Educator Pathways Professional Educator Standards Board

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Do you know someone who wants to join WASA? Tell them to visit online and sign up today!

Karen Andersen, Peninsula SDShane Baguyo, Orting SDStephen Banda, Moses Lake SDSonia Barry, North Kitsap SDAimee Batliner-Gillette, Mercer Island SDMark Beddes, Fife PSSheryl Belt, Bainbridge Island SDMarilyn Bergevin, Wapato SDAbby Bowers, ESD 113Kelley Boynton, Bethel SDGina Bullis, Othello SDDouglas Campbell, Kennewick SDMario Casello, Puyallup SDBecky Clifford, Everett PSKathy Cropp, Issaquah SDEric DeJong, Arlington PSDanna Diaz, San Juan Island SDDan Dizon, Federal Way PSKristi Docken, Pasco SDBenton Dorman, Mill A SDDiana Eggers, Issaquah SDKimberly Eimers, North Kitsap SDJanet Fawcett, Tacoma PSTraci Frank, Puyallup SDAngie Franklin, University Place SDChristopher Gardea, Walla Walla PSChad Golden, Everett PSOwen Isao Gonder, Seattle PSJoshua Goodman, Fife PSSuzanne Hall, Pasco SDGwen Harris, Spokane PSEd Hatzenbeler, Orting SDPatrick Hegarty, Mukilteo SDVeronica Heller, Castle Rock SDMark Helm, Wenatchee SDMaria Hetland, University Place SDRuss Hill, East Valley SD—Yakima

Alicia Jacob, Yakima SDEric Johnson, Moses Lake SDKaren Johnson, North Thurston PSDennis Johnson, Wishkah Valley SDBryan Jones, Burlington-Edison SDJennifer Keck, Spokane PSAndrew Kelly, Lyle SDTeresa Kessie, ESD 123Lori Anne Knudson, Marysville SDTimothy Krieger, Lake Washington SDBrian Leavitt, Pasco SDHeather Lechner, Everett PSDiane Leonetti, Bainbridge Island SDRebecca Lockhart, Clarkston SDBryan Long, Finley SDKeri Marquand, Enumclaw SDBuck Marsh, Darrington SDFran McCarthy, NE Washington ESD 101Jeannine Marilla Medvedich, Puyallup SDJoshua Meek, Moses Lake SDBrian Melody, Spokane PSMichael Merrin, OSPIForrest Miller, Lake Washington SDJack Monpas-Huber, Marysville SDDebbie Morris, Cheney PSSusan Mundell, Issaquah SDNicole Nanny, Cheney PSEric Nerison, Kalama SDMichael Olsen, North Kitsap SDKarl Ostheller, McCleary SDLisa Pacheco, Spokane PSWillie Painter, Franklin Pierce SDKelly Pearson, North Kitsap SDLisa Pitsch, Mukilteo SDKassidy Probert, Cheney PSLorri Reilly, East Valley SD—SpokaneKaren Remy-Anderson, North Thurston PSPam Ridenour, Issaquah SDLissan Rodriques, Mukilteo SD

The WASA Superintendents Component meeting held in conjunction with the Washington State School Directors’ Association 2015 Annual Conference is scheduled at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bellevue on November 21 from 7:30–9 a.m. Please mark your calendar.

SAVE THE DATE

Chris Rust, Toledo SDJohn Savage, East Valley SD—SpokaneMegan Sawicki, North Kitsap SDSuzanne Schmick, Endicott SDTammy Lee Schultz, Tumwater SDKristen Sheridan, Olympic ESD 114Travis Smith, North Kitsap SDSusan Sparks, Pasco SDMark St. Clair, Mead SDSara Stewart, Bethel SDTara Stone, Mercer Island SDDaniel Thomas, Lakewood SDKaren VanWieringen, Puyallup SDAmie Verellen-Grubbs, Arlington PSCalvin Watts, Kent SDTracy Williams, Walla Walla PSErik Wolfrum, NE Washington ESD 101Chris Woods, Tumwater SDStephanie Zikopoulos, Marysville SDDan Zorn, Longview PS

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Does your district have an innovative school or program?

WASA is looking for information on the great learning and teaching taking place in our Washington

schools. We would like to feature schools, innovative programs, and the great teaching taking place in

Hotline’s Slice of Washington and on our website. Please send information, pictures, materials, etc.,

to Tricia McCosh at pmccosh@wasa-oly.org.

WANT TO

SHARE A SLICE?

WashingtonfSlice

Focus on Innovation

Update From Washington State Leadership AcademyThe conclusion of the 2014–15 WSLA program was honored in Spokane with a statewide workshop. All twenty-five participating districts showcased their Theory of Action, specifically designed to address the statewide Problem of Practice (POP).

Nine districts from ESDs 121 and 105 were celebrated as they graduated from the program. These districts will continue to sustain their focused work on highly effective systems designed to serve the unique needs of their students by applying the learning and using the WSLA tools of the Problem of Practice, Cycle of Inquiry, and Theory of Action.

In the spring of 2015, Dr. Carol Whitehead announced her retirement as WSLA director. Carol was a tireless advocate of the Leadership Academy, devoting herself to ensuring the highest quality program was delivered to district teams.

WASA and AWSP were pleased to announce Sharon Bower as the new Academy Director. Sharon brings experience to the work having been a teacher, principal, and superintendent, as well as valuable insight to the program as a two-time WSLA participant.

This year, ESDs 101 and 113 have districts in Year 2, while ESDs 121 and 189 have districts beginning Year 1. The strong sponsorship of WASA and AWSP continues to drive the work of WSLA. Throughout this year, WSLA will be working on updating and exploring updates to the curriculum and delivery model— focused on high levels of student learning—to better serve our districts’ systems.

Information about WSLA can be found on their website at www.waleadershipacademy.org.

Also be sure to check out WSLA on Facebook and Twitter! You will find posts related to leadership, teaching and learning, as well as inspiring thoughts. Sharon can be contacted at sbower@waleadershipacademy.org.

AASA National Conference on Education—Leading for ExcellenceFebruary 11–13, 2016 | Phoenix Convention Center

To register and reserve lodging, visit http://nce.aasa.org. Early registration ends October 31.

THE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

WashingtonfSlice

Focus on Innovation

Outdoor Learning Space Engages Students in Innovative Ways

River HomeLink in the Battle Ground Public School District has a new classroom called the Outdoor Learning Space. The classroom is an outdoor space made up of flowers, plants, vegetables, and other elements that were planted by students, teachers, and parents. The space is meant to be used by all of the

classes at River HomeLink and provide inspiration for assignments. Students use the space to make scientific observations for their science classes and as artistic subjects for their art classes. This fall, a “pioneer garden” will be planted to show students in the third and fourth grade social studies class the foods pioneers planted and ate. The innovative classroom engages students with activities that aid students in their understanding and helps bring the subjects to life.

Read more here: http://bit.ly/1QN6wCG

Photo from www.battlegroundps.org

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GENERAL INFORMATION 360.943.5717 / 800.859.9272

EXECUTIVE OFFICE 360.489.3641 / 360.352.2043 (fax)

• Bill Keim, Executive Director bkeim@wasa-oly.org

• Marilee Jensen, Executive Assistant mjensen@wasa-oly.org

• Talina Davis, Office Assistant tdavis@wasa-oly.org

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS 360.489.3642

• Dan Steele, Assistant Executive Directordsteele@wasa-oly.org

• Sheila Chard, Administrative Assistant schard@wasa-oly.org

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & MEMBERSHIP SERVICES 360.489.3640 / 360.352.6873 (fax)

• Helene Paroff, Assistant Executive Director hparoff@wasa-oly.org

• Jamie Chylinski, Professional Development Coordinator jchylinski@wasa-oly.org

• Anne Morris, Professional Development/Membership Assistant amorris@wasa-oly.org

• Tricia McCosh, Communications pmccosh@wasa-oly.org

CAREER & CONTRACT SERVICES 360.489.3653

• John Dekker, Assistant Executive Director jdekker@wasa-oly.org

ACCOUNTING 360.489.3643 / 360.352.2043 (fax)

• Eve Johnson, Accountant ejohnson@wasa-oly.org

2015–16 WASA OFFICERS President: Frank Hewins, Franklin PiercePresident-elect: Lois Davies, Pateros Past President: Michelle Price, Moses Lake Secretary: Larry Francois, Northshore Treasurer: Mark Mansell, La Center

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Region Events—October & NovemberMany WASA regions conduct monthly gatherings and/or provide

activity reports in conjunction with ESD meetings (not listed below).

REGION 101 PRESIDENT—RANDY RUSSELLOct. 15, 8:30–9:30 a.m. NEWASA Superintendent Component

Meeting, Topic: ESD 101 Legislative Priorities, NEWTECH Skills Center, Spokane

Oct. 15, 9:30 a.m.–11 p.m. General Member Meeting, NEWTECH Skills Center, Spokane

REGION 105 PRESIDENT—BECKY IMLEROct. 15, 8:30–11:30 a.m. General Member Meeting, Topic:

Legislative Planning, ESD 105, Yakima Nov. 12, 8:30–11:30 a.m. General Member Meeting, Topic:

SBA—System Implementation, ESD 105, Yakima

REGION 108 PRESIDENT—PHIL BROCKMANNov. 6, 12–1:30 p.m. General Member Meeting, ESD 189,

Anacortes

REGION 110 PRESIDENT—ALAN SPICCIATIOct. 16, 11:45 a.m.–1 p.m. New Administrators Kick-off, PSESD,

Renton

REGION 111 PRESIDENT—JENNIFER BETHMANOct. 16, 7:30–8:30 a.m. General Member Meeting, Topic:

Preparation for Focus on Education and Bonds/Levies, Fife School District Administrative Center, Fife

REGION 112 PRESIDENT—SANDRA YAGERNov. 13, 10 a.m.–12 noon General Member Meeting, ESD 112,

Vancouver

REGION 113 PRESIDENT—KAREN ERNESTNov. 18, 8–9:30 a.m. General Member Meeting, ESD 113,

Pac/GH/T Rm, Tumwater

REGION 114 PRESIDENT—DAVID ENGLEOct. 30, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. General Member Meeting, ESD 114,

Room 202, Bremerton

REGION 123 PRESIDENT—RAY TOLCACHERNov. 12, Time TBD SEWASA Legislative Discussion

Meetings, ESD 123, Pasco

REGION 171 PRESIDENT—RICHARD JOHNSONOct. 15, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. General Member Meeting, North

Central ESD, WenatcheeNov. 12, 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. General Member Meeting,

Cottonwood Conference Center, Wenatchee