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  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 27

    by Dan Moran | Feb 27, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_022715

    The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 27

    February 27 is the deadline for all bills from fiscal committees to have passed out of committee. Attention then focuses on floor action. All bills will have until March 10 to clear their chamber of origin.

    One issue of major concern to school districts has been the lack of substitute teachers. There are three proposals that have received attention and are meant to help address that shortage. Each proposal has differences.

    HB 1737 Addressing the availability of retired teachers as substitutes.

    The original bill stated that a teacher in Plan 2 or Plan 3 that has retired under the ERF factors may be employed with an employer for up to two hundred sixteen hours per school year (27 days) without suspension of his/her benefits.

    The bill was scheduled for Executive Session action at the February 25 House Appropriations Committee meeting. Representative Sam Hunt proposed an amendment that made two basic changes from the original bill:

    1. Districts must document a shortage of certificated substitute teachers, and
    2. The number of hours a retired teacher may work without suspension of retirement benefits was increased from 216 hours to 630 hours. (The intent was to basically allow up to a semester of substitute availability, but this would vary depending on the length of an individual school day.) The bill as amended was adopted by a 30 to 3 vote.

    This bill represents a strong step in a desired direction and keeps the issue of increasing the pool of qualified substitutes alive.

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.

    This bill directly addressed the need for substitutes and had no limit as to hours. The bill was scheduled for Executive Session action by the same committee on February 23, but upon returning from caucus the bill did not come before the committee for a vote. There is strong opposition by Senators Bailey and Schoesler to this bill, and the chair of the committee chose to not bring the bill before the committee even though its two prime sponsors were Republican Senators Parlette and Dammeier. At this point, the bill is presumed dead.

    SB 5941 Concerning certification of adjunct faculty as common school substitute teachers.

    This bill requires the Professional Educator Standards Board to amend or adopt rules that provide for issuance of the certification necessary to serve as substitute teachers, other than emergency substitute certification, to adjunct faculty currently employed in institutions of higher education who meet certain criteria.

    The bill was voted out of the Early Leaning and K–12 Senate Education Committee by a vote of 9 to 0. It has been sent to Rules for Second Reading. Another bill of note and potential impact to school districts is SB 5976.

    SSB 5976 Establishing a consolidating purchasing system for public school employees.

    Sponsors: Senators Litzow, Keiser, Becker, Rivers, Hobbs, Hill, Hatfield, Fain, Baumgartner, McAuliffe, Dammeier

    This bill creates the School Employees’ Benefits Board (SEBB), within the state health care authority (HCA), to design and approve state-wide insurance benefit plans for school employees and to establish eligibility criteria for participation in insurance benefit plans. It would remove health benefits from collective bargaining at a district level and put the responsibility for statewide collective bargaining with the Governor or his designee.

    This bill is virtually the same as SB 6442/HB 2724 which was introduced in the 2012 legislative session and received no floor action in the Senate, and no hearings in the House.

    The stated intent of the bill to create savings through assumed efficiencies to assure equitable access to health care for all eligible employees and their dependents and to assure assumed cost-effectiveness through pooling, leveraged purchasing, and administrative simplification. One of the chief savings would come from an elimination of the broker and administrative fees currently paid in the private plans in place.

    This bill was heard on February 24 before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. It was felt that removing the bargaining of health benefits from districts would help alleviate the burden on districts of doing so. However, this bill as proposed is premature. It presupposes that a statewide menu of insurance choices with a K–12 risk pool would be less expensive that what is currently available. No one knows. Furthermore, after its implementation, costs to administer the plan statewide would be added to then established premiums, an unknown effect on such costs.

    In 2012, the legislature passed ESSB 5940 which among other things directed the HCA to do a study of the advantages and disadvantages of a consolidated health purchasing plan. They are to deliver their report on June 30, 2015. They are looking at various models. One is the effect of establishing a K–12 risk pool and its effect on rates. Another is to move the K–12 employees into the already existing Public Employment Benefit Board (PEBB) system. No one yet knows the pluses or minuses of such a change. Hence the earlier mandate to perform study. This proposed bill ignores that and moves ahead at a cost of $14+ million dollars just to staff the HCA in order to set up the SEBB and begin to gather information and then insurance quotes. All K–12 employees would be in this SEBB model by January 1, 2017. As an aside, this bill only speaks to Health and Dental insurance offerings. Vision, VEBA, long-term care, and life insurance offerings are left out at this point.

    The bill was amended and voted out during Executive Session by the Ways and Means Committee on February 26.

    Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

    Fred Yancey 
    fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 20

    by Dan Moran | Feb 20, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_022015

    The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 20

    Two important legislative cut-off dates are February 20 and February 27. The first date is when all policy bills have to have been heard by a committee(s) and the latter date is the similar deadline for all bills from fiscal committees.

    However, any bill deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB) remains alive past these deadlines, and the fact that the Legislature can deem any bill alive, the status of many of the following bills is still unclear. Furthermore, the agendas next week for both Senate and House fiscal committees are “To Be Announced,"so uncertainty reigns.

    Here is a list and brief description of bills of importance:

    HB 1737 Addressing the availability of retired teachers as substitutes.

    A teacher in plan 2 or plan 3 that has retired under the ERF factors may be employed with an employer for up to two hundred sixteen hours per school year (27 days) without suspension of his/her benefits.

    Representatives Orcutt, Santos, Magendanz, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Kilduff, Kagi, Zeiger, Tarleton, Muri, Condotta, Pollet

    This bill had its first public hearing February 11 before the House Appropriations Committee. No further action has been scheduled. This bill could be ruled NTIB.

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.

    Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban

    This bill directly addresses the need for substitutes with a limit of 867 hours. Should a district and students need a long-term sub, a district could hire one, instead of a series of short-term subs as would be the case in HB 1737. The bill had a public hearing February 16. A panel including the WEA and the superintendent of Soap Lake testified in favor of the bill. It is awaiting action before the Senate Ways and Means Committee but could be deemed NTIB.

    SB 5941 Concerning certification of adjunct faculty as common school substitute teachers.

    Sponsors: Senators Rivers, Rolfes, Litzow, Dammeier, Angel

    This bill requires the Professional Educator Standards Board to amend or adopt rules that provide for issuance of the certification necessary to serve as substitute teachers, other than emergency substitute certification, to adjunct faculty currently employed in institutions of higher education who meet certain criteria. This bill was voted on by the Early Learning and K–12 Senate Education Committee and is currently in limbo. It is likely dead.

    SB 6017/HB 2138 Establishing PERS/TRS Plan 1 COLAs.

    SB 6017 Sponsors: Senators Liias, Conway, Fraser, McAuliffe, Chase, Kohl-Welles, Darneille

    HB 2138 Sponsors: Representatives Reykdal, S. Hunt, Sells, Muri, Pollet, Pettigrew, Johnson, Haler, Ormsby, Dunshee, Lytton, Walkinshaw, Ortiz-Self

    If enacted, this bill would provide PERS and TRS Plan 1 retirees with the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that is provided to Plan 2 and Plan 3 members. The first COLA applied would be in July of 2015.

    Both bills have been referred to their respective fiscal committees (Senate Ways and Means, House Appropriations) and have yet to be scheduled for hearings. This certainly qualifies as NTIB, but the bills are highly unlikely to pass given current fiscal constraints and other demands on the 2015–2017 budget.

    Meanwhile, regarding pensions, Sen. Braun (Centralia/Chehalis), the Vice-Chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, has introduced a number of bills related to changing the present pension system for future hires. He clearly favors moving the public employee compensation and benefit models into models based upon the private sector (and the lowest end of the private sector compensation and benefit models).

    None of these bills to date have been scheduled for hearings, but could easily be deemed NTIB.

    SB 5980 Creating the Elected Officials Retirement Savings Plan.

    Sponsors: Senator Braun

    If enacted, this bill would create a retirement savings plan option for public officials elected or appointed to elective office after July 1, 2017. After this date, newly elected officials would only have the choice of participating in this savings plan option, and could not participate in one of the state administered defined benefit retirement plans, such as PERS. This bill would not apply to elected Judges or Justices and would also allow PERS members the option to remain in PERS if they are at least age 50 upon their date of reelection.

    This bill is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

    SB 5982 Increasing the normal retirement age for new employees.

    Sponsors: Senator Braun

    If enacted, this bill would increase the normal retirement age of new employees first hired on or after July 1, 2015. New employees first hired into eligible positions in PERS Plan 2 and 3, TRS Plan 2 and 3, or SERS Plan 2 and 3, will have a normal retirement age of 67 instead of 65. New employees first hired into PSERS Plan 2 eligible positions would have a normal retirement age of 62 instead of 60. New employees first hired into LEOFF Plan 2 eligible positions would have a normal retirement age of 55 instead of 53. New employees first hired into WSPRS Plan 2 eligible positions would have a normal retirement age of 57 instead of 55.

    This bill is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

    SB 6005: Limiting maximum compensation for retirement benefits.

    Sponsors: Senator Braun

    If enacted, this bill would impact new employees first hired after December 31, 2015, by limiting the maximum compensation for calculating retirement benefits to the State Average Annual Wage as determined under RCW 50.04.355. (The “average annual wage” is the quotient derived by dividing the total remuneration reported by all ‘private’ employers for the preceding calendar year by the average number of workers reported for all months of the preceding calendar year and if the result is not a multiple of one dollar, rounding the result to the next lower multiple of one dollar.)

    It would also limit the compensation upon which employee and employer contributions are paid to the same State Average Annual Wage. This bill would apply to members in PERS, TRS, SERS and PSERS, but does not apply to LEOFF Plan 2 or WSPRS Plan 2 members. For higher education employees first hired after December 31, 2015, annual contributions by the employer may not exceed ten percent of the state average annual wage.

    This bill is awaiting a hearing before the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

    Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

    Fred Yancey 
    fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

  • Week in Review: February 16-20

    by Dan Moran | Feb 20, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    week-in-review_022015

    Week in Review: February 16-20
    House Education

    Prior to the first major cutoff date of the 2015 legislative session, 32 bills moved out of the House Education Committee. Five bills that continue to churn through the process important to principals include:

    HB 1785 – Eliminating the certificate of academic achievement as a requirement for high school graduation.

    HB 2023 - Changing the deadline for notices of non-renewal of contracts for certificated school employees.

    HB 1240 – Concerning restraint or isolation of students in public schools.

    HB 1541 – Implementing strategies to close the educational opportunity gap.

    HB 1142 – Modifying school district authority with respect to student parking.

    One of the bills that is not currently alive is HB 1941, which would have allowed bond issues to pass with a simple majority vote rather than the current 60% requirement.

    Monday, the House Education Committee held a public hearing on seven bills impacting principals.

    HB 1947 - Establishing a comprehensive plan to expand learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities or special needs using multiple strategies and statewide partnerships. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    HB 1971 - Concerning charter schools.

    HB 1974 - Creating a pilot program to implement regional school safety and security centers. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    HB 2023 - Changing the deadline for notices of non-renewal of contracts for certificated school employees. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    HB 2037 - Requiring mental health assessments for K–12 students who were removed from school due to violence or mental health issues. AWSP signed in pro with concerns about the bills fiscal impact.

    HB 1941 - Providing for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    HJR 4210 - Amending the Constitution to provide for a simple majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds at general elections. AWSP signed in support.

    Tuesday, 12 bills moved out of the Committee while eight waited until Thursday for action. Those moving forward included:

    HB 1149 - Providing for educational data on students from military families.

    HB 1240 - Concerning restraint or isolation of students, including students with disabilities, in public schools.

    HB 1541 - Implementing strategies to close the educational opportunity gap, based on the recommendations of the educational opportunity gap oversight and accountability committee.

    HB 1546 - Concerning dual credit opportunities provided by Washington state’s public institutions of higher education.

    HB 1591 - Concerning high school and beyond plans.

    HB 1666 - Making the results on the statewide assessments available as norm-referenced results and as student growth percentiles.

    HB 1682 - Improving educational outcomes for homeless students through increased in-school guidance supports, housing stability, and identification services.

    HB 1714 - Concerning the achievement index rating system.

    HB 1760 - Providing students with skills that promote mental health and well-being and increase academic performance.

    HB 1783 - Expanding dual language and bilingual instruction for early learners through secondary students.

    HB 1790 - Clarifying the authority of a nurse working in a school setting.

    HB 1804 - Concerning the confidentiality of educator professional growth plans.

    Thursday morning, the House Education held an executive session and moved 21 bills forward to either the Rules Committee or the Ways & Means Committee. Fifteen of the votes were either unanimous or with two or fewer nonconforming voting. The bills that were the most controversial were:

    HB 1562 - Requiring posting of allergen information in public schools. (Sullivan) 11–10

    HB 1785 - Eliminating the certificate of academic achievement as a requirement for high school graduation. (Reykdal) 14 – 7

    HB 2048 - Concerning the division of large first-class school districts. (Santos) 16–5

    HB 1771 - Confirming that the professional educator standards board is an authorized representative of the state educational agencies. (Gregory) 17–4

    HB 1947 - Establishing a comprehensive plan to expand learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities or special needs using multiple strategies and statewide partnerships. (Pollet) 18–3

    HB 1492 - Addressing technology literacy. (Magendanz) 18–3

    The following bills all moved on with little discussion, amendments, or no votes:

    HB 1813 - Expanding computer science education. (Hansen/Robin Hammond)

    HB 1855 - Waiving local graduation requirements for certain students. (Caldier)

    HB 1864 - Supporting evidence-based strategies to promote high school graduation. (Kilduff)

    HB 1900 - Defining the role of the school counselor, social worker, and psychologist. (Ortiz-Self)

    HB 1142 - Modifying school district authority with respect to student parking. (Wilcox)

    HB 1345 - Adopting a definition and standards of professional learning. (Lytton) 

    HB 1408 - Concerning the development of a definition and model for “family engagement coordinator” and other terms used interchangeably with it. (Ortiz-Self) 

    HB 1568 - Concerning dropout prevention through engaging youth in farming. (Reykdal) 

    HB 1570 - Creating flexibility for the educator retooling conditional scholarship program. (Gregory)

    HB 1770 - Changing explicit alternative routes to teacher certification program requirements to expectations for program outcomes. (Bergquist)

    HB 1865 - Concerning visual screening in schools. (Magendanz)

    HB 1974 - Creating a pilot program to implement regional school safety and security centers. (Stambaugh)

    HB 2023 - Changing the deadline for notices of nonrenewal of contracts for certificated school employees. (Parker)

    HB 1331 - Concerning school library and technology programs. (Muri)

    HB 1495 - Enacting the student user privacy in education rights act. (Reykdal)

    Senate Early Learning & K–12 Committee

    Twenty additional bills have moved out of the Senate Early Learning & K–12 Committee this week, while all others are considered “dead” at this point. Five that are still alive that will impact the work of principals include:

    SB 5744 - Regarding school employee workforce reductions and assignments was that bill. If there was a RIF due to enrollment or revenue loss, past performance evaluations are the basis for determining the order are non-renewed. It also calls for a provision that a teacher may be assigned to a particular school only with the mutual agreement of the hiring principal and teacher (school-based hiring).

    SB 5748 – Requires teachers and principals where reading, language arts or math federally mandated statewide assessments are administered to have results included in their evaluations.

    SB 5803 - Requires teachers, during spring meetings with parents of students in third grade, to inform the parents or guardians of students who are below grade-level in reading of the following: 1. The intensive reading improvement strategies available to students before fourth grade; and 2. The school district’s grade placement policy for the following year.

    SB 5850 – Prohibits schools from physically restraining or isolating any student except when the student’s behavior poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm to that student or another person.

    SB 5908 - Prohibits schools from physically restraining or isolating a student except when the student’s behavior poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm to that student or another person.

    Monday, the Committee held a public hearing on eight bills that could impact the work of principals:

    SB 5803 - 3rd grade English assessment and notification of parents. AWSP testified in support of the bill that allows spring meetings with parents to inform them about the students who are below grade-level reading and what improvement strategies are available.

    SB 5850 – Prohibits schools from physically restraining or isolating any student except when the student’s behavior poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm to that student or another person.

    SB 5908 – Requires the WSSDA to adopt a model policy limiting restraint or isolation of students in public schools.

    SB 5905 - Special education services. AWSP signed in support of the bill that creates a state advisory council at OSPI for special education.

    SB 5907 –Provides a sales and use tax exemption on the sales of technology to, and the of technology in, public schools.

    SB 5941 – Allows adjunct faculty to be certified as substitute teachers.

    SB 5966 – Extends the time a school board must grant academic course equivalency in math or science for high school CTE from the list of courses approved by the SBE.

    Tuesday, the Committee took public testimony on four bills and then moved another 12 bills out of the committee.

    Public Hearing: SB 5856 - Creating a competitive grant program for high-quality, evidence-based outreach programs that improve high school graduation rates for college bound scholarship students. AWSP signed in support of the bill. AWSP signed in pro on the bills.

    SB 5930 - Requiring music education in elementary schools. AWSP testified with concerns because the bill requires 100 minutes of music education per week but does not add any time to the school day.

    SB 5942 - Concerning an outcome evaluation of the national guard youth challenge program.

    SB 5787 - Concerning a model policy and procedures for language access by limited-English proficient parents of students.

    SB 5908 - Prohibits schools from physically restraining or isolating a student except when the student’s behavior poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm to that student or another person.

    Executive Session:

    All 12 bills moved to either the Rules or Ways & Means Committee, with only one bill having less than 8 of 9 yes votes (SB 5744).

    SB 5744 - Regarding school employee workforce reductions and assignments was that bill. If there was a RIF due to enrollment or revenue loss, past performance evaluations are the basis for determining the order are non-renewed. It also calls for a provision that a teacher may be assigned to a particular school only with the mutual agreement of the hiring principal and teacher (school-based hiring).

    SB 5419 - Enacting the student user privacy in education rights act.

    SB 5526 - Preventing harassment, intimidation, and bullying in public schools.

    SB 5657 - Creating a pilot program to encourage school districts to extend the school day to provide homework assistance to middle schools.

    SB 5679 - Concerning transition services for special education students.

    SB 5452 - Improving quality in the early care and education system.

    SB 5098 - Increasing efficiency in child care reporting.

    SB 5688 - Providing students with skills that promote mental health and well-being and increase academic performance.

    SB 5721 - Concerning the membership of the expanded learning opportunities council.

    SB 5805 - Concerning conflict resolution programs in schools.

    SB 5748 - Clarifying the teacher and principal evaluation process with the intent of strengthening the process.

    SB 5517 - Concerning sexual harassment prevention and response through policies and training in schools.

    Thursday

    The Committee held a public hearing on one bill, SB 5922, which requires school districts to make a variety of services available to students who participate in the highly capable program.

    Afterward, eight bills were moved out of the Committee and on to the Senate Rules or Ways and Means Committee. They included:

    SB 5787 - Concerning a model policy and procedures for language access by limited-English proficient parents of students.

    SB 5803 - Concerning the notification of parents when their children are below basic on the third grade statewide English language arts assessment.

    SB 5856 - Creating a competitive grant program for high-quality, evidence-based outreach programs that improve high school graduation rates for college bound scholarship students.

    SB 5879 - Concerning early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families.

    SB 5907 - Creating a sales and use tax exemption for technology sold to, or used in, public schools.

    SB 5908 - Concerning restraint or isolation of students, including students with disabilities, in public schools.

    SB 5941 - Concerning certification of adjunct faculty as common school substitute teachers.

    SB 5942 - Concerning an outcome evaluation of the national guard youth challenge program.

  • "These kids LOVE math." – EngageNY and the Common Core

    by Dan Moran | Feb 15, 2015

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    Posted by Vicki Bates

    “These kids LOVE math.” – EngageNY and the Common Core

    Way to go, Bethel! So inspiring to hear a principal (along with teachers and central office leaders) remind us of the power of vertical alignment, powerful instruction, and communication and collaboration with families in leading to positive outcomes for students. It’s so refreshing to hear their honest acknowledgement of the challenges at first – for everyone, including students. Yet, students today are being touted as “engineers” who are “farther ahead” than they have previously been in their mathematics learning. It’s noted that, “kids love the challenge,” and are willing to tackle work they may not know how to take on at the outset. Now that’s a skill that will help them be college and career ready!

    AWSP Leadership Criterion and Elements: Aligning Curriculum 4.2, Improving Instruction 5.3, Engaging Communities 7.2

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 13

    by Dan Moran | Feb 13, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_021315

    Retirement and Health Benefits

    The beauty of the democratic system is that citizens have access to their political leaders. And often, those leaders listen and respond. This has certainly been the case in addressing the lack of substitute teachers for school districts. But, this only occurs if and when legislators hear from those in their communities. (See remarks below on SB 5148 for an important opportunity to be heard.)

    As reported earlier, there have been at least three different approaches to increasing the pool of available substitute teachers.

    Proposals range from removing the restrictions prohibiting early retirees from returning as substitute teachers to removing the same restrictions on both classified and certificated employees. The only bill to date that has had a hearing is one that lies somewhere in between:

    HB 1737 Addressing the availability of retired teachers as substitutes.

    A teacher in Plan 2 or Plan 3 that has retired under the ERF factors may be employed with an employer for up to two hundred sixteen hours per school year (27 days) without suspension of his/her benefits.

    Representatives Orcutt, Santos, Magendanz, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Kilduff, Kagi, Zeiger, Tarleton, Muri, Condotta, Pollet

    This bill had its first public hearing February 11 before the House Appropriations Committee. Numerous persons testified in support of the concept of the bill, but not its specific restrictions. Superintendents from McCleary and Olympia pointed out that the 27 day limitation would not serve students well. Others testifying indicated the same.

    Some members of the committee asked the prime sponsor, Rep. Orcutt, if he would entertain an increase in the number of days. He said he would, but only a minor increase. A fellow Republican suggested 12 weeks as the limit since that was the leave granted under FMLA. No response.

    WASA’s position continues to favor SB 5148.

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.

    Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban

    This bill directly addresses the need for substitutes with no limit as to the number of days allowed. Should a district and students need a long-term sub, then a district could hire one, instead of a series of short-term subs as would be the case in HB 1737 cited above. This bill stands a solid chance of being passed. Its prime sponsors in the Senate are leading Republicans.

    It is scheduled for a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 16th at 3:30 before the Senate Ways and Means Committee. This is an important time for representatives from the education community to be heard by committee members. You are urged to attend and let them know how important this issue is to your school and students. Please contact Jerry Bender if you can attend.

    Now, to shift slightly, but still on the topic of substitute availability, late this last week, SB 5941 was introduced:

    SB 5941 Concerning certification of adjunct faculty as common school substitute teachers.

    Sponsors: Senators Rivers, Rolfes, Litzow, Dammeier, Angel

    This bill requires the Professional Educator Standards Board to amend or adopt rules that provide for issuance of the certification necessary to serve as substitute teachers, other than emergency substitute certification, to adjunct faculty currently employed in institutions of higher education who meet certain criteria.

    This bill, if passed, would help increase the pool of substitute candidates, a good thing.

    Clearly, legislators are aware of the need for qualified substitutes. This issue has grabbed their attention because they have heard from their constituents.

    Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

    Fred Yancey 
    fyancey@comcast.net 
    The Nexus Group

  • Week in Review: February 9-13

    by Dan Moran | Feb 13, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    week-in-review_021315

    Week in Review for February 9–13

    House Education

    Monday, the House Education Committee held a public hearing on two bills of importance to principals state wide.

    HB 1805 changes the definition of a “school day” to be at least five hours of contact time with students. AWSP opposed the bill, noting that principals are calling for additional professional learning and collaboration time between principals and teachers. Until that additional flexible time is provided for all schools, early release and late arrival time is often all that’s available for implementing the initiatives the Legislature has called for (TPEP, STEM, CCSS, and NGSS).

    HB 1864 task OSPI with developing a comprehensive career and college readiness model and administering the Jobs for Washington Graduates program to promote high school graduation. OSPI requested the legislation.

    Tuesday, the Committee held a public hearing on five bills impacting principals:

    HB 1541 implements strategies to close the educational opportunity gap and is based on the recommendation of the Educational Opportunity Gap Oversight and Accountability Committee (EOGOAC). AWSP spoke in support of the intent of the bill, but recommended seven amendments (see attachment) to strengthen the it.

    HB 1790 attempts to clarify that individuals who are not nurses are unqualified to make nursing judgments and assessments. It does not prohibit a non-nurse from supervising a licensed nurse on matters other than the practice of nursing. It also requires a school to provide clinical supervision for a licensed nurse working in a school setting. AWSP raised two questions regarding the bill:

    1. in districts where is there is only one nurse who will provide the clinical supervision, and
    2. is there a clearer definition of the “practice of nursing?”

    AWSP is working with proponents of the bill to address the two issues.

    HB 1855 waives local graduation requirements for students who have attended three or more high schools but have met the state requirements. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    HB 1900 defines the role of the school counselor, social worker, and psychologist. It says the primary role of the groups is to focus on student mental health, work with at-risk and marginalized students, perform risk assessments, and collaborate with mental health professionals. AWSP signed in opposed to the bill. An amended version of the bill is being drafted that includes language stipulating these roles should also promote student achievement.

    HB 1865 requires that schools provide visual screening for both distance and near visual acuity. Current rules do not require screening for near visual acuity. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    Wednesday, the Committee held a public hearing on three bills of interest to principals.

    HB 1682 adds homeless student education liaisons to the minimum staffing allocation for district-wide support services of .233 per 1,000 FTE students in K–12. It creates a grant program of up to $500,00 for up to 15 schools or school districts that partner with eligible organizations.

    HB 1760 requires OSPI to convene a work group to develop and recommend social emotional learning (SEL) benchmarks. The workgroup will include a K–12 administrator. The report is due October 1, 2016.

    HB 1783 creates a K–12 dual language expansion grant program.

    Senate Early Learning and K–12 Education

    Monday, the Senate Early Learning & K–12 Education held a public hearing on one bill that would impact at the building level:

    SB 5744 sets forth a performance-based framework for RIFs due to enrollment decline or revenue loss. Past performance evaluations are the basis for determining the order in which contracts of certificated staff with each particular certification or endorsement area are non-renewed. Every school board policy and locally bargained agreement adopted after the effective date must contain a provision that a teacher may be assigned to a particular school only with the mutual agreement of the hiring principal and the teacher. This policy of hiring through mutual agreement is referred to as school-based hiring.

    Tuesday, the Committee held a public hearing on three bills that could impact a principal’s work:

    SB 5748 would require student results from relevant statewide assessments to be used as one of the multiple measures of student growth in teacher performance evaluations. In addition, it would be delayed from the 2015–16 school year to the 2016–17 school year. Finally, a required report from OSPI on district implementation would be delayed until December 2018.

    SB 5749 Specifies that student growth data elements used in teacher and principal evaluations include state-based tools and delays the use of the evaluation results in making human resources and personnel decisions until the 2016–17 school year.

    SB 5805 Statewide dispute resolution organizations are added to the list of developers of the volunteer-based conflict resolution and mediation program. The program must use lawyers or certified mediators to train students.

    Wednesday, a public hearing involved two bills impacting schools:

    SB 5690 removes the requirement that OSPI approve any community-based organization or local agency before LAP funds can be expended. Instead, each school and school district receiving LAP funds to partner with community-based organizations, educational service districts, and other local agencies to deliver academic and non-academic supports must develop an annual school-community LAP action plan.

    SB 5814 The Washington Community Learning Centers Program is refocused to target communities of color, and rural and low-income communities; and to provide smaller after-school programs greater opportunity to access grant funds to support community learning center programs.

    Also on Wednesday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee held a 40 minute work session on levies. Committee staff briefed the Committee, helping them better understand Washington’s property tax system. For example, one chart shows M&O levy revenues have grown as a portion of total district revenues since the early 1980s.

    Watch the work session on TVW.

    House

    HB 1003 Schools, disaster recovery
    SHB 1031 College in the high school
    SHB 1121 Financial education
    SHB 1295 Breakfast after the bell

    Senate

    SSB 5065 Homeless students
    SSB 5080 Dual credit education
    SSB 5082 Career & tech ed/elem school
    ESSB 5083 Sudden cardiac arrest
    SB 5120 School district dissolutions
    SSB 5163 Students/military families
    SSB 5179 Paraeducators 
    SSB 5202 Financial education partnership
    SB 5229 Technology literacy 
    SSB 5252 School safety, security
    SSB 5294 School library & tech programs 
    SB 5303 Washington AIM program
    SB 5312 Educator retooling/program 
    SSB 5316 Identifiable student info
    SB 5392 Quality education council
    SSB 5433 Tribal history, culture 
    SSB 5437 Breakfast after the bell
    SB 5496 Teacher certification
    SB 5497 Professional educator standards board
    SJM 8006 Sexual abuse/children, peers

  • Outside Is In: Meet a Tree

    by Dan Moran | Feb 10, 2015

    Posted by Martin Fortin

    OIN-test-header

    Lesson Purpose: To identify with a tree using the senses of touch, sight, hearing and smell.

    1. Ask the students to find a partner.
    2. Explain that one student from the pairs will be blindfolded. The other student will carefully and gently lead the blindfolded partner to a nearby tree.
    3. The seeing partner will then instruct the blindfolded partner to "meet the tree" by encouraging hi mor her to explore the tree as high and low as possible, to hug it, smell it, knock on it, etc. The blindfolded student should get to know the tree as well as possible using all senses but sight.
    4. The seeing partner will then lead the blindfolded partner back to the starting point where they can then remove the blindfold.
    5. The formerly blindfolded partner now tries to find his or or tree. (Hopefully the seeing partner has taken them in a circuitous route to that they can not walk directly back to the tree.)
    6. The roles are then switched and the game is played again.
    7. A discussion following the activity can lead many directions: senses, identification of trees, diversity among forest communities, etc.
    Download the lesson as a PDF.

  • Beyond the Bake Sale: ASB Fundraiser Money for a Nonprofit

    by Dan Moran | Feb 10, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Martin Fortin 

    Beyond the Bake Sale graphic

    Beyond the Bake Sale: ASB Fundraiser Money for a Nonprofit


    Q. Our Middle School conducted a fundraiser under ASB. Now they would like to donate $500 of the $12,000 raised to Homeless Backpacks (nonprofit). They would note it in their minutes. Will that be sufficient since they didn’t raise it under Private Purpose Trust (6000) account?

    A. When the charitable fundraising law passed in 2000, I ask the school audit manager about this issue. The answer was that a fundraiser had to be either public ASB or private charity and you could not co-mingle those funds. The other issue is that before the fundraiser, you must notify the public that the money is going to a charity. So they cannot use some of the fundraised money to give to a charity.

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Feb. 6

    by Dan Moran | Feb 06, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_0201615

    Retirement & Health Benefits for February 6

    The availability of substitute teachers is a real problem for school districts across the state. The good news is that legislators have clearly heard from their school leaders in their legislative districts about the need to expand the pool of those eligible to substitute. There is also data from a recent survey that further expresses the need.

    The staff at the Select Committee for Pension worked with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and polled Washington’s school districts for information about substitute teachers.

    The polls were distributed November 24 and due back December 3. Even with this quick turnaround, 94 districts responded, representing 43% of statewide enrollment. Over 89% of the responding districts indicated a shortage of substitutes.

    How can this situation be fixed? What are legislators going to do? Currently, there are at least three different approaches and resulting legislative proposals to address this concern.

    HB 1737 Addressing the availability of retired teachers as substitutes.
    Representatives Orcutt, Santos, Magendanz, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Kilduff, Kagi, Zeiger, Tarleton, Muri, Condotta, Pollet

    A teacher in plan 2 or plan 3 that has retired under the ERF factors may be employed with an employer for up to two hundred sixteen hours per school year (27 days) without suspension of his/her benefits.

    This bill will have its first public hearing February 11th @ 3:30 PM, before the House Appropriations Committee chaired by Rep. Ross Hunter.

    HB 1615 (SB 5545) Concerning post-retirement employment
    Representatives Appleton, Santos, Pollet, Moscoso, Reykdal, Sells, S. Hunt, Dunshee, Ormsby, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Fitzgibbon
    Senators McAuliffe, Chase, Liias, Conway

    ERF certificated and classified employees may return to part-time work. Companion bill to HB 1615 cited above. No hearings scheduled to date.

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.

    The title says it all.” Beginning July 1, 2015, employment with an employer for the purposes of this subsection shall not include employment as a substitute teacher as defined in RCW 41.32.010”.

    The definition of ‘teacher’ as cited in the bill is: “Substitute teacher” means:

    (a) A teacher who is hired by an employer to work as a temporary teacher, except for teachers who are annual contract employees of an employer and are guaranteed a minimum number of hours; or

    (b) Teachers who either (i) work in ineligible positions for more than one employer or (ii) work in an ineligible position or positions together with an eligible position.

    Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban

    This bill directly addresses the need for substitute with no limit as to number of day allowed. Should a district and students need a long-term sub, then a district could hire one, instead of a series of short-term subs as would be the case in HB 1737 cited above. This bill stands a solid chance of being passed. Its prime sponsors in the Senate are leading Republicans. The problem, however, will be in getting it through the House. The top leadership of the House is highly resistant to allowing once retired persons to reenter employment.

    It is important to resolve the restrictions currently placed on certain retirees to return to work in short-term, substitute positions. Legislators need to continue to hear of the need to make such a change. Testimony before hearings, telephone calls, scheduled visits and emails would all be important actions to take to help change the present system.

    In another vein, a hearing was before the House Committee on Labor on HB 1273: Implementing family and medical leave insurance.

    >This bill, as written, establishes a family and medical insurance program in partnership with the Employment Security Department. Employees could take up to 12 weeks of paid leave. It would be funded by charging an employer 2/10th of 1% of an employee’s wage. This charge would rise to 4/10th of 1% in 2018. Those collected dollars would fund the program.

    This bill had a public hearing before the House Committee on Labor on January 29. WASA testified in opposition to the bill. It is an unfunded mandate and the cost to districts in 2017 is estimated to be over $8.8 million, and the cost to employees, the same $8.8 million. By 2109, costs for both groups would rise to close to $18 million for each. The bill is not sensitive to the fact that current collective bargaining agreements already provide for this type of leave although there is no guarantee that an employee would have accrued or been gifted up to 12 weeks of paid leave. But at any rate, a district provides medical leave, which is allowed to accrue, and often provides an opportunity for others to share leave if they wish. In addition, often the district has to also employ and pay a substitute. Meanwhile, that same district and employee is assessed the fee to fund this additional insurance program. This bill was voted out of committee in Executive Session on February 3.

    Sponsors: Representatives Robinson, Sells, Farrell, Hudgins, Kagi, Wylie, Sawyer, Walkinshaw, Moscoso, Ryu, Ormsby, Riccelli, Jinkins, Senn, McBride, Gregerson, Fitzgibbon, Moeller, Reykdal, S. Hunt, Stanford, Bergquist, Santos, Pollet, Fey, Tarleton

    Fred Yancey 
    fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

  • Outside Is In: What's the Idea?

    by Dan Moran | Feb 03, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Martin Fortin

       outsidein_020315

      Outside Is In: What's the Idea?

       Encourage students to be on the lookout for environmental articles in magazines or newspapers. When they bring them in, select one and duplicate as many as needed. Distribute copies to students. Instruct the students to read the selection very carefully. On a clean sheet of paper have them write the following:    

       

      • The main idea
      • The problem
      • A solution
      • Their personal opinion
      • A summary (approximately eight sentences)

      On the back have them compose and write three quality questions with answers regarding the selection; one true-false, one multiple choice, and one fill-in-the-blank.

      Collect papers and compose a comprehension quiz, or perhaps create a game about those learned facts.

  • Beyond the Bake Sale: Storing Boosters Money in the School Safe

    by Dan Moran | Feb 02, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Martin Fortin 

    Beyond the Bake Sale graphic

    Beyond the Bake Sale: Storing Boosters Money in the School Safe

    Q. Can we temporarily store money that belongs to the Boosters in the school safe?

    A. You cannot store any money in the school safe that is not public money. The Boosters' money is private. This would be considered using a public resource for the advantage of a private business. I have heard stories of auditors finding money in the school safe labeled “Boosters” or “PTO/PTA” and require that the money be placed into ASB.

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Jan. 30

    by Dan Moran | Jan 30, 2015

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    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_013015

    The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Jan. 30

     

    First, an update regarding health benefit study:

    In 2012, ESSB 5940 regarding school employee benefits passed. It directed the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to collect data on the health plans and costs from all school districts. This phase has been done with 100% of districts and carriers submitting the data. The legislation also mandated that school districts must offer a high deductible health plan option with a health savings account similar to that required for state employees.

    The Health Care Authority (HCA) is now analyzing the OIC data and has to: 1. determine if districts are making progress toward employee premiums for full family coverage that are not more than three times the premiums for employees purchasing single coverage, and 2. review the advantages and disadvantages to the state, school districts, and school employees of various approaches to consolidated purchasing of school employee health benefits. The HCA has just begun this analysis and a preliminary report is due June 1, 2015.

    They will be looking at the advantages and disadvantages in various consolidation models. For example, what would happen to costs if all K–12 employees (classified/certificated) are put into the current Public Employment Benefit Plans (PEBB) offerings? What if it’s only classified employees? What if all K–12 have a separate combined pool?

    At this point, there have been no specific data answering these questions. OIC is still gathering information about the various projected models. Meanwhile, the list below may look familiar. It is a repeat from last week with the exception of updates on certain bills.

    This week the most active committee hearings were before the House Labor Committee concerning various proposals for establishing minimum requirements for employers to meet on providing sick, safe, family, medical and vacation leaves. Updates on the committee’s action are given below. No hearings have yet been scheduled on any of the proposed changes in pensions or return to work provisions that affect future and present retirees.

    Selected bills of note:

    HB 1109 Authorizing membership in the teachers’ retirement system for certificated employees of the superintendent of public instruction.

    Self-explanatory. Scheduled for Executive Session by the House Appropriations Committee on February 5th.

    Representatives Reykdal, Wilcox, Bergquist

    HB 1163 Concerning paid vacation leave.

    This bill would compel an employer to grant two hours of vacation leave for every 40 hours an employee worked. As written, it explicitly exempts school districts. This bill was heard before the House Committee on Labor on January 29 at 8 AM.

    Sponsors: Representatives Tarleton, Walkinshaw, Moeller, Ortiz-Self, Gregerson, Pollet, S. Hunt, Appleton, Ormsby, Goodman

    HB 1273 Implementing family and medical leave insurance.

    This bill, as written, establishes a family and medical insurance program in partnership with the Employment Security Department. Employees could take up to 12 weeks of paid leave. It would be funded by charging an employer 2/10th of 1% of an employee’s wage. This charge would rise to 4/10th of 1% in 2018. Those collected dollars would fund the program. Of course, this overlooks the additional cost to a district of a substitute if needed. This bill had a public hearing before the House Committee on Labor on 1/29 at 8 AM. WASA testified in opposition to the bill. It is an unfunded mandate and not sensitive to the fact that current collective bargaining agreements already provide for this type of leave. It is scheduled for Executive Session on February 3rd.

    Sponsors: Representatives Robinson, Sells, Farrell, Hudgins, Kagi, Wylie, Sawyer, Walkinshaw, Moscoso, Ryu, Ormsby, Riccelli, Jinkins, Senn, McBride, Gregerson, Fitzgibbon, Moeller, Reykdal, S. Hunt, Stanford, Bergquist, Santos, Pollet, Fey, Tarleton

    HB 1356 (SB 5306) Establishing minimum standards for sick and safe leave from employment.

    This bill was heard before the House Committee on Labor and passed out of Executive Session on 1/29 on a vote of 4/3. WASA signed in “Pro with concerns” on this bill.

    Sponsors: Representatives Jinkins, Riccelli, S. Hunt, Farrell, Stanford, McBride, Cody, Tharinger, Goodman, Ortiz-Self, Sullivan, Bergquist, Pettigrew, Dunshee, Fitzgibbon, Peterson, Moscoso, Ryu, Appleton, Sells, Pollet, Robinson, Reykdal, Walkinshaw, Senn, Wylie, Ormsby, Lytton, Moeller, Kagi, Hansen, Hudgins, Tarleton, Sawyer, Fey, Gregerson, Gregory, Van De Wege, Kilduff, Blake, Kirby, Orwall, Clibborn

    HB 1542 (SB 5473) Providing retirement benefits at earlier ages in the plans 2 and 3 of the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system.

    “Rule of 85”: When your minimum age of 55 and years of experience total 85, you could retire with full benefits.

    Representatives S. Hunt, Moscoso, Reykdal, Sells, Pollet, Dunshee

    HB 1615 (SB 5545) Concerning postretirement employment.

    Allows all certificated and classified retirees who used 2008 ERF’s (Age 62 and 30 years of experience) to retire early with full benefits to return to work as substitutes, contract and/or project employees.

    Representatives Appleton, Santos, Pollet, Moscoso, Reykdal, Sells, S. Hunt, Dunshee, Ormsby, Bergquist, Ortiz-Self, Fitzgibbon

    SB 5473 (HB 1542) Providing retirement benefits at earlier ages in the plans 2 and 3 of the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system.

    Rule of 85. Companion bill to HB 1542 cited above.

    Senators Chase, Hasegawa, McAuliffe, Rolfes, Conway

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.

    The title says it all.”Beginning July 1, 2015, employment with an employer for the purposes of this subsection shall not include employment as a substitute teacher as defined in RCW 41.32.010.”

    The definition of ‘teacher’ as cited in the bill is: “Substitute teacher” means: (a) A teacher who is hired by an employer to work as a temporary teacher, except for teachers who are annual contract employees of an employer and are guaranteed a minimum number of hours; or (b) Teachers who either (i) work in ineligible positions for more than one employer or (ii) work in an ineligible position or positions together with an eligible position.

    Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban

    SB 5435 Expanding participation in the Washington state deferred compensation program. 
    Senators Bailey, Schoesler

    Let me apologize for an earlier error in reporting on this bill. If passed, school districts must offer deferred compensation to employees, but there is no requirement for an employee to participate. The opt-out language in the bill only relates to state employees, not school employees.

    “Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, all subdivisions of the state that participate in one or more the state retirement systems listed in RCS 41.50.030 must offer the state deferred compensation program as an option to all employees….

    Beginning no later than January 1, 2016, all persons newly employed by the state who are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan shall be enrolled in the state deferred compensation plan unless the employee affirmatively elects to waive participation in the plan. Persons who participate in the plan without having selected a deferral amount or investment option shall contribute three percent of taxable compensation to their plan account which shall be invested in a default option selected by the state investment board in consultation with the director….”

    SB 5545 (HB 1615)

    ERF certificated and classified employees may return to part-time work. Companion bill to HB 1615 cited above.

    Senators McAuliffe, Chase, Liias, Conway

    Fred Yancey 
    fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

     
     
     
     
     

  • Week in Review: January 26-30

    by Dan Moran | Jan 30, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Jerry Bender

    week-in-review_013015

    Week in Review

    Monday, January 26

    House Education

    During the House Education Committee meeting on Monday, January 26th, AWSP testified in support of HB 1142, which modifies school district authority with respect to student parking. AWSP staff Marty Fortin worked with the prime sponsor, Representative Wilcox (R-Yelm), to craft legislation clarifying that school ASB’s may use student parking fees to support student activities.

    AWSP testified in support of HB 1240 (student restraint and isolation) with concerns about Section 3b, which states in part, “restraint or isolation of any student is permitted only when reasonably necessary to control unpredicted, spontaneous behavior that poses an imminent likelihood of serious harm.” The challenge for teachers and principals will be after a student, typically a primary-aged child, has hit, bit, thrown, or similar for several times, the behavior could be considered predictable and the plan devised is not working. An amendment will be suggested to remove the word “unpredicted” from Section 3B.

    AWSP testified with concerns about HB 1293 (paraeducators training). The bill includes 13 recommendations for training and certification of paraeducators, including the recommendation of requiring training of principals and teachers on how to work effectively with paraeducators. In testimony, AWSP called for full funding of schools prior to adding additional requirements to school staff. A memo from AWSP staff going into more detail was given to the 21 members of the House Education Committee.

    The House Education Committee held an executive session and moved HB 1003 out of committee. This bill requires the Washington State School Directors’ Association to develop a model policy addressing the restoration of the safe learning environment that is disrupted by natural disaster impact to the school district infrastructure and distribute the policy to districts by August 31, 2016. This bill is in response to lessons learned from the landslide that occurred last year in Oso.

    Senate Early Learning and K–12 Education Committee

    Monday afternoon, the Committee held a work session on Early Achievers, a program to prepare children for success in school. They heard that 2,243 licensed child care providers (42%) participated in the Early Achievers program. There was also a public hearing on two bills dealing with early childhood education: SB 5098 (child care reporting) and SB 5462 (comprehensive changes to early childhood care & reporting requirements).

    Tuesday, January 27

    Senate Early Learning & K–12 Education Committee

    AWSP supported four bills and offered amendments on three of them.

    • SB 5252 creates a pilot program to implement regional school safety and security centers in three ESD’s, most likely in Spokane, Yakima, and Bremerton. The bill also calls for creation of a technology-based system enabling more efficient and effective communication between schools and emergency response entities, including local law enforcement, local fire departments, and state and federal responders; as well as the provision of technology support to improve communication and data. AWSP suggested rather than one system, multiple systems should be created at the pilot stage to determine if one is significantly better than another; rather than putting all the eggs in one basket during the trial stage. Senator Dammeier, prime sponsor, asked AWSP to leave the proposed changes with staff.

    SB 5294 renames school library media programs to school library information and technology programs and revises the duties of teacher-librarians. AWSP offered language to broaden the list of duties performed by librarians.

    SB 5303 creates the Washington academic, innovation, and mentoring (AIM) program. Testifying in support of the program was the Boys/Girls Clubs of Washington. They would be the entity that would implement the AIM program. AWSP called for the outcomes of the program to be defined by the Department of Commerce with input from OSPI prior to awarding grants.

    SB 5437 deals with breakfast after the bell programs. Section 4 requires OSPI to offer training and technical and marketing assistance to schools offering breakfast after the bell. Breakfast after the bell has three different offerings: 1. grab and go 2. second chance breakfast, offered later in the morning, and 3. breakfast in the classroom.

    The same bill was heard in the House Education Committee as HB 1295 on Tuesday as well.

    Thursday, January 29

    Senate Early Learning & K–12 Education

    The Committee took public testimony on four bills and moved another four bills forward. SB 5312 creates flexibility for the educator retooling conditional scholarship program by making conditional scholarships available to individuals with an elementary school education certificate to pursue special education, bilingual education, ELL, and computer science education, in addition to mathematics and science endorsements. AWSP signed in supporting the bill. In executive session, four bills were amended before passing out of committee.

    • SB 5080 deals with dual credit options and distinguishes College in the High School (CHS) and Running Start programs, as well as expands eligibility for CHS to grades nine and ten. It passed out of the Committee 7–0 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

    • SB 5082 was amended to create a grant program for the next two years for STEM education. It passed out of the Committee 7–0 and was referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

    • SB 5083 deals with sudden cardiac arrest awareness and was amended to send the work of the bill to WIAA rather than WASSDA. Because there is no fiscal cost to the bill it was referred to the Rules Committee after a 7–0 vote.

    • SB 5163 provides more educational data on students from military families and was amended so schools with fewer than ten students impacted would not need to report the information. It was supported by the military and passed out of the Committee 7–0.

    Three other bills also had a public hearing:

    • SB 5316 deals with privacy and security of personally identifiable student information, including biometric information such as a fingerprint or hand scan. This could cause challenges for schools who are using fingerprint technology to speed up service in cafeteria lines. If your school is using such equipment, you would have to replace it in this bill.

    • SB 5392 would eliminate the quality education council, which is made up of eight legislators, OSPI SBE, PESB, DEL, EOGOAC and the Office of the Governor.

    • SB 5433 calls for including Washington tribal history, culture and government to be taught in schools.

    House Education

    The House Education Committee held a work session on student discipline, including a history of discipline laws, and also received an update from the Student Discipline Task Force. Anne Lee, Executive Director of Team Child, used PowerPoint slides to explain Team Child’s take on the negative impact of zero tolerance policies and turnaround strategies that reduce exclusion without compromising safety. OSPI staff reviewed the work of the Task Force that includes two representatives of AWSP, Principal Mia Williams (Seattle SD) and Trevor Greene (Highline SD). Definitions and timelines for implementation of the rules are available here. Alan Burke, Ed.D., Executive Director of WSSDA, presented a two-page summary. WSSDA Research Blast on Student Discipline (December, 2013).

    On Thursday night, the House Education Committee held an additional hearing. Meeting jointly with the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, the focus was an update on two bills adopted in last two sessions: * HB 2739 (2014): Identifying areas where effects of family factors, such as health status and safety, correlate with academic and behavioral indicators of student success. WSU researcher Dr. Blodgett compiled a report and provided his findings, as required by HB 2739. An executive summary of the report is also available. * HB 1336 (2013): Increasing capacity of school districts to recognize and respond to troubled youth. Representatives of the Professional Educator Standards Board, OSPI, and the Youth Suicide Prevention Program joined to provide an update on the implementation of HB 1336. The group also provided a “Suicide Threat” flowchart from Issaquah School District.

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Jan. 23

    by Dan Moran | Jan 23, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Jerry Bender

    retire_012315

    Retirement & Health Benefits

    The following is a partial list of bills that could affect current and future retirees. The sponsors are listed so in the event you are meeting with any of them, please let them know of your interest and support or non-support.

    First, a reminder: last Session, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed legislation that eliminated the annual option a member of Plan 3 has had to change his/her contribution rate. If you’re a TRS Plan 3 member, you have one last opportunity in January 2015 to change your contribution rate. If you decide to do so, please complete the TRS Plan 3 Contribution Rate Change form. Once you have filled out the form, submit it to your employer between January 1 and January 31. After that, TRS Plan 3 members would only be able to change their rate when they change employers, as is the case currently with PERS and SERS Plan 3 members.

    This change was made because the Internal Revenue Service has provisionally qualified the state of Washington’s TRS Plan 3 with an important condition – that the annual rate change option be removed.

    HB 1542 (SB 5473) Providing retirement benefits at earlier ages in the plans 2 and 3 of the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system.
    (Rule of 85; Age 55 plus 30 years equals full retirement option) 
    Representatives S. Hunt, Moscoso, Reykdal, Sells, Pollet, Dunshee

    SB 5473 (HB 1542) Providing retirement benefits at earlier ages in the plans 2 and 3 of the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system.
    (Companion bill to HB 1542 cited above) 
    Senators Chase, Hasegawa, McAuliffe, Rolfes, Conway

    SB 5148 Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time.
    (The title says it all. ”Beginning July 1, 2015, employment with an employer for the purposes of this subsection shall not include employment as a substitute teacher as defined in RCW 41.32.010.”

    The definition of ‘teacher’ as cited in the bill is: “Substitute teacher” means:

    (a) A teacher who is hired by an employer to work as a temporary teacher, except for teachers who are annual contract employees of an employer and are guaranteed a minimum number of hours; or (b) Teachers who either (i) work in ineligible positions for more than one employer or (ii) work in an ineligible position or positions together with an eligible position.)
    Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban

    HB 1109 Authorizing membership in the teachers’ retirement system for certificated employees of the superintendent of public instruction.
    Representatives Reykdal, Wilcox, Bergquist

    SB 5435 Expanding participation in the Washington state deferred compensation program. 
    Senators Bailey, Schoesler
    (*Beginning no later than January 1, 2017, all subdivisions of the state that participate in one or more the state retirement systems listed in RCS 41.50.030 must offer the state deferred compensation program as an option to all employees…

    Beginning no later than January 1, 2016, all persons newly employed by the state who are eligible to participate in a deferred compensation plan shall be enrolled in the state deferred compensation plan unless the employee affirmatively elects to waive participation in the plan. Persons who participate in the plan without having selected a deferral amount or investment option shall contribute three percent of taxable compensation to their plan account which shall be invested in a default option selected by the state investment board in consultation with the director….*)

    Fred Yancey fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

     
     
     
     
     

  • Beyond the Bake Sale: Event Passes for Staff

    by Dan Moran | Jan 20, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Martin Fortin

    Beyond the Bake Sale graphic

    Beyond the Bake Sale: Event Passes for Staff

     
    Q. I had a question about how teachers and coaches can get a pass to watch in district sporting events. For the past 24+ years we have been able to show our employee badge, agree to supervise as needed, and were able to get in with a spouse or sibling. We were just told this does not work with ASB laws. Is there a way this can be resolved, so staff can go support students they have taught or coached?
     
    A. In general, an employee can attend an event if they have a specific job to perform or if they agree to supervise in some manner (children and spouses must pay). Otherwise, it is considered a gift of public funds. This is not an ASB issue as much as a Washington Constitutional provision:
     
    Washington State Constitution
    ARTICLE VIII: STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS
    SECTION 7 CREDIT NOT TO BE LOANED. No county, city, town or other municipal corporation shall hereafter give any money, or property, or loan its money, or credit to or in aid of any individual, association, company or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor and infirm, or become directly or indirectly the owner of any stock in or bonds of any association, company or corporation.

  • The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Jan. 16

    by Dan Moran | Jan 16, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Jerry Bender


    retire_011615

    The Nexus Group: Retirement & Benefits for Jan. 16

    Although it is still early in the session, some bills have been introduced that could impact present and future employees and retirees. Other bills are expected. It’s important to keep in mind that after introduction, some bills move on, some don’t, and some bill proposals change as they move along.

    Recap

    Last session, legislation was passed to eliminate the annual option a member of Plan 3 has had to change his/her contribution rate. If you’re a TRS Plan 3 member, you have one last opportunity in January 2015 to change your contribution rate. If you decide to do so, please complete the TRS Plan 3 Contribution Rate Change. Once you have filled out the form, submit it to your employer between January 1 and January 31. After that, TRS Plan 3 members would only be able to change their rate when they change employers, as is the case currently with PERS and SERS Plan 3 members.

    This change was made because the Internal Revenue Service has provisionally qualified the state of Washington’s TRS Plan 3 with an important condition – that the annual rate change option be removed.

    Bills Introduced

    HB 1036: Addressing survivor benefits from the public employees’ retirement system for survivors of members in registered domestic partnerships prior to December 2012. The Department of Retirement Systems would develop rules to permit the designation of the registered domestic partner as the ‘post-retirement marriage survivor.”

    HB 1109: Authorizing membership in the teachers’ retirement system for certificated employees of the superintendent of public instruction. The title says it all. If passed, it would authorize certificated employees of the superintendent of public instruction to become members of the teachers’ retirement system.

    HB 1163: Concerning paid vacation leave. This bill would compel an “employer” to grant two hours of vacation leave for every 40 hours an employee worked. A similar bill was introduced last session but did not advance. One difference in this current bill is that it explicitly states under definitions that “employer” does not mean a school district, a community or technical college, or an institution of higher learning. These parties, as currently written would be exempt from provisions of this bill. At this point, the objections WASA pointed out last year were heard and adopted in this present proposal. However, this is always subject to change as the bill moves through the legislative process. Sponsors of this bill are: Representatives Tarleton, Walkinshaw, Moeller, Ortiz-Self, Gregerson, Pollet, S. Hunt, Appleton, Ormsby, and Goodman.

    HB 1168 (SB 5211): Correcting restrictions on collecting a pension in the public employees’ retirement system for retirees returning to work in an ineligible position or a position covered by a different state retirement system. This is legislation requested by the Select Committee on Pension Policy to correct a error in a previous piece of legislation. It corrects restrictions on collecting a pension in the public employees retirement system for retirees returning to work in an ineligible position or a position covered by a different state retirement system. It is a ‘technical’ fix, not a substantive change in present pension policy.

    HB 1273: Implementing family and medical leave insurance. This bill establishes a family and medical insurance program through the Employment Security Department. It would be funded by charging an employer 2/10th of 1% of an employee’s wage. The employee could be responsible for paying half that amount. The charge would rise to 4/10th of 15 in 2018. Those collected dollars would fund the program. Of course, this overlooks the cost for paying for a substitute, and it is unclear how this would work if an employee was already entitled to paid leave from their employer. More information is needed on this bill.

    SB 5148: Allowing members who retire early under alternate early retirement provisions as set forth in RCW 41.32.765(3) and 41.32.875(3) to work as substitute teachers and continue receiving retirement benefits at the same time. This title is self-explanatory. Legislators have clearly heard from their local school districts and association lobbyists. Various newspaper articles across the state have also addressed the need for change to improve the pool of available substitutes. WASA has been assured that this bill will be heard in the Ways and Means Committee. Sponsors of the bills are Senators Parlette, Dammeier, Chase, Conway, McAuliffe, O’Ban.

    AWSP members are encouraged to continue to let their legislators know of the importance of this bill to help fix a problem. This is a first step.

    The bill does not allow for substitute work for classified employees who retire at age 62 with 30 years. They would remain ineligible to return to work until age 65. If districts are having problems with filling substitute bus driver, cook, janitor, aide, etc employees, then legislators need to hear of that need as well.

    Bills Expected

    As this is being written, the press is writing of expected bills to increase minimum wage. One bill being mentioned would increase minimum wage to $12/hour over a four-year period. The bill has not been introduced as of yet.

    Updates on new bills and on the status of those of import will continue throughout the session. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

    Fred Yancey/Scott Nelson
    fyancey@comcast.net
    The Nexus Group

     
     
     
     
     

  • Beyond the Bake Sale: Paying for a Coach

    by Dan Moran | Jan 06, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Martin Fortin


    Beyond the Bake Sale graphic

    Beyond the Bake Sale: Paying for a Coach

    Q. Can our volleyball team run a fundraiser through ASB to get money to pay for an additional coach? Could our equestrian team do the same thing?

    A. It is possible to use ASB funds for employee stipends. BUT…
    • Paying a stipend out of ASB would depend on the collective bargaining contract.  If this position has been included, then you can pay the employee out of payroll and invoice the ASB. If the position is not in the contract, you will have to wait and negotiate it into the next cycle.
    • You will also need to have student and adviser approval.
    • If the employee is not a certified teacher (or otherwise exempt) then you must pay at least minimum wage based on a time card report.
    • You may also have Title IX gender equity issues.
    • Remember the school board has final say on employment issues.

  • Outside Is In: "Wet Words" (A Language Arts Lesson)

    by Dan Moran | Jan 06, 2015

    outsidein_010615

    Outside Is In: "Wet Words" (A Language Arts Lesson)

    How important is water to our society?

    Just think how many different words we have to express it. Have students brainstorm words that mean water or a form of water (e.g., splash, drip, etc.) while the teacher lists them on a large sheet of butcher paper. Can your class reach one hundred? Save the list and use it later for creative writing activities.
     
     
     
     

  • Week in Review: February 2-6

    by Dan Moran | Jan 06, 2015

    < Back to blog archive
    Posted by Jerry Bender

    week-in-review_020615

    Week in Review: February 2-6


    House Education

    Monday, an amended version of HB 1031 moved to the Rules Committee. HB 1031 expands participation in College in the High School programs to include tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade students.

    HB 1121 moved on to the Rules Committee as well. As the bill is currently drafted, it requires OSPI to make financial education curriculum available to school districts and requires school districts to provide high school students with the opportunity to complete a financial education course.

    Monday afternoon, the Committee held a public hearing on five bills of interest to principals:

    1. HB 1331 concerns school library and technology programs and changes the name of School Library Media Programs to School Library Information and Technology programs as well as outlines ways teacher-librarians may collaborate with their schools to serve students and staff.
    2. HB 1345 adopts a definition and standard of professional learning but does not include any funding for professional learning.
    3. HB 1408 develops a definition and model for “family engagement coordinator.” AWSP testified in support of the bill and asked that principals be included in the work group to create a definition of family engagement coordinator and other terms used interchangeably with it. The prime sponsor plans to add language to add other stakeholders to the group.
    4. HB 1492 calls for school district to require elementary, middle, and high school students to demonstrate technology literacy and fluency. AWSP spoke against the proposal because school technology needs and staff development need to be addressed prior to measuring students on technology literacy and fluency.
    5. HB 1562 requires public schools to display allergen information on a conspicuous sign in a prominent place within each area where food is served. It has been reported by some that each sign will cost $25.

    Tuesday afternoon, the Committee took public testimony on five bills, three of which dealt with eliminating the requirement to obtain a certificate of academic achievement.

    HB 1785 is request legislation by OSPI with prime sponsor Representaive Reykdal (D-Olympia) and 31 others. AWSP testified in support of this bill , which:

    • Eliminates the requirement that a student obtain a Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) or Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) to graduate from a public high school.

    • Strikes language referring to legislative intent to transition from the biology end of course (EOC) to a more comprehensive science assessment.

    • Eliminates the transition period between administration of current assessments and those developed with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), and removes the requirement that the Superintendent of Public Instruction develop assessments for use during the transition period.

    • Requires students in the twelfth grade who do achieve a level one or two on the mathematics or English Language Arts assessments SBAC to take and pass a locally determined course in that content area, preferably a “high school transition course” which is defined.

    • Sets forth requirements for the High School and Beyond Plan, while retaining local district discretion with respect to whether a student has met this requirement.

    HB 1703 is governor request legislation with two sponsors that:

    • Provides that after the 2014–15 school year the state will no longer administer the mathematics End of Course (EOC) assessments or the tenth grade assessment for reading and writing or English Language Arts (ELA).
    • Requires that the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) provide guidelines for administering objective alternatives to the assessments, rather than develop options for implementing objective alternative assessments and directs school districts to implement the objective alternatives, including evaluation of the Collection of Evidence (COE) which is to be evaluated at the district level.
    • Provides an additional objective alternative in the form of college readiness transition courses for mathematics, English and science.

    HB 1363 completely eliminates the requirement to obtain a certificate of academic achievement or certificate of individual achievement to graduate from high school. It has 21 sponsors both D’s and R’s.

    HB 1497 deals with the Seattle School District and would allow the mayor to appoint two of the seven school board members rather than have them elected by the voters.

    HB 1386 address school employee workforce reductions using past performance evaluations to determine the order in which certificated staff (teachers and ESA positions) are nonrenewed. AWSP spoke against the bill in part because the new evaluation system has not been fully operationalized across the state and within districts that the data available is not yet valid and reliable. WEA testified that recently passed legislation requires that evaluation data must be used beginning in 2015–16 on all personnel decisions.

    Senate Early Learning & K–12 Education Committee
    Monday afternoon, the Committee held public hearing on three bills of interest to principals.

    SB 5391 is Professional Educator Standard Board request legislation to require the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, in consultation with PESB must select up to five community or technical college sites to develop and offer applied baccalaureate programs in education that lead to teacher certification by the Fall 2016. AWSP testified in support of the bill but asked that it be amended to focus the programs where there are currently a shortage of teachers within specific content areas such as SPED, ELL, science and math.

    SB 5419 is sponsored by eight of the nine members of the committee so it is expected to move forward at a later date. The bill deals with student privacy and address the issue that there are not Washington or federal laws that limit the sharing of personal student information by other entities to provide services to school and have access to personal student information. AWSP signed in support of the bill.

    SB 5517 addressed sexual harassment prevention and response by calling for additional polices and training in schools. As currently written it requires:

    • A school district’s sexual harassment policy to be in clearly understandable language and be provided to administrators, certificated staff, classified staff, and parents or guardians, as well as students in secondary schools.
    • Administrators, certificated staff, and classified staff, upon hiring, to sign a statement of receipt and agreement with the sexual harassment policy.
    • AWSP testified in support of the concept but asked for clarifying “clearly understandable language” because the understanding of a seventh grade ELL student and an parent with advanced degrees could open up legal issues for schools.

    Senate Early Learning & K–12 Education

    Thursday morning, the Committee took public testimony on six bills that would impact schools in Washington.

    SB 5688 creates a study group to determine how to implement social emotional learning for grades K–12. AWSP testified in support of the bill but asked that professional learning be included in the implementation section of the final report.

    SB 5679 addresses transition planning to post-secondary setting for students with disabilities as early as age fourteen. AWSP signed in support.

    SB 5657 creates a pilot program to encourage school districts to extend the school day to provide homework assistance to middle schools. It is patterned after a program in Issaquah School District and funded by the Issaquah Education Foundation. AWSP testified in support of the bill but called for evaluation criteria to be added to the bill to determine if the pilots are successful. It is anticipated there would be approximately 25 pilots funded at approximately $10,000 each.

    SB 5526 requires school districts to adopt or amend a transgender student policy and procedure by August 1, 2016 and it calls for OSPI to review and align the questions in the Healthy Youth Survey dealing with transgender student policy and procedures.

    SB 5690 concerns school-community learning assistance program (LAP) action plans.

    Later in the hearing, the Committee moved into executive session and moved four bills forward:

    SB 5202 relates to the financial education public-private partnership and requires districts to high school students the opportunity to complete financial education course equivalent to one-half credit.

    SB 5229 requires school districts to require students to demonstrate technology literacy and fluency through technology assessments , culminating project or other equivalent methods. The bill was sent to the Ways & Means Committee.

    SB 5312 creates flexibility for the educator retooling conditional scholarship program and was sent to the Rules Committee.

    SB 5433 requires Washington’s tribal history, culture and government to be taught in schools by working with tribes within or near school districts when reviewing or adopting social students curriculum.

    House Education

    Thursday morning, the Committee held a public hearing on four bills:

    SB 1591 requires each student to have a high school and beyond plan developed in the eighth grade to prepare students for post-secondary education or training and career. OSPI must work with school counselors to develop and disseminate best practices for quality plans. AWSP requested a principal be a part of the planning group since the plan will involve everyone in a building. AWSP also warned that with the plan being developed in the eighth grade year, more counselor time would need to be provided to ensure the plan is meaningful for students.

    SB 1495 establishes the student user privacy in education rights act or SUPER act. AWSP signed in support of the proposed legislation.

    SB 1546 modifies the College in the High School program and the Running Start program and adds a per credit subsidy for CHS for free or reduced-price lunch. It also requires Running Start courses to be open to matriculated students of the participating institution of higher education. AWSP signed in support.

    HB 1666 makes the results on statewide assessments available as norm-referenced results and as student growth percentiles.

  • Beyond the Bake Sale December 10, 2014

    by Sean Norton | Dec 10, 2014

    < Back to blog archive

    Posted by Martin Fortin

    Beyond the Bake Sale graphic

    Beyond the Bake Sale

    Q. Can you help me out with determining if the elementary schools can us ASB funds to purchase student planners and recorders if they are charging the students for them to replenish the account?

    A. This is possible if considered a fundraiser like a student store activity. You may be able to develop a position that confirms this process as an ASB fundraiser. I tried that argument once for selling Spanish workbooks and was told by an auditor that is was inappropriate. Best practice would be to make it a general fund activity.

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