AWSP Blog

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss some coronavirus resources, the new immunization rules,  our last episode of AWSP TV Highline Superintendent Dr. Susan Enfield, Omak’s 3F Club,  the annual Equity Conference, the AWSP/WASA Summer Conference, the NASSP Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, the NAESP Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, a new survey and winning a $15 Amazon Gift Card, and a last chance to nominate a Principal of the Year or Assistant Principal of the Year.

AWSP is excited to be one of many organizations involved with the IPPDP cadre as an external partner navigating the implementation of better inclusionary practices for Washington state educators; our focus being, of course, YOU, the building learning leaders. Since November 2019, AWSP has embarked on a “fact-finding” crusade to measure the understanding of what inclusion and inclusionary practices are from our members’ perspective and evaluate what the immediate needs are in order to embed targeted inclusionary practices within all of or professional learning opportunities.

We have some openings to serve on our Grade Level Leadership Committees (GLLC), formerly our component boards. Join the many principals and assistant principals who've become more involved with us. We know how busy you are, but our board and committee members consistently tell us about incredibly value the networking and professional learning, both formal and informal, is to them.

Daylight Savings Time! Spring! St. Patrick’s Day! March is full. Here are some important topics rising to the top in March.

A change is coming in August 2020 that you don’t want to miss. The way schools collect immunization records and comply with immunization rules will be different beginning with the 2020-21 school year. Effective August 1, 2020, a state rule change will affect three areas of immunization compliance: The definition of “conditional status” has been clarified. Students must turn in their immunization paperwork on or before the first day of attendance. All new immunization records from students need to be medically verified. The Tdap vaccine requirement for 6th through 12th graders has been changed to a 7th through 12th-grade requirement.

As many of you know, Governor Inslee declared a state of emergency due to the growing presence of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in our state. What does that mean? Should you freak out? Is this something we're all overreacting to? Great questions, but we're no doctors (although we do have a Dr. Scott Seaman). Here's what we can tell you though; listen to advice and guidance from your district and from local, state, and national health experts. Aside from that, our best piece of advice is to make sure you are communicating frequently and clearly with your students, staff, and community.

After noticing an increase in discipline between Thanksgiving and holiday break, Omak High School principal David Kirk reached out to the community to open a space for any school-aged child to have access food, friends and fun, and created the 3F club.

Proposed bills dealing with providing a benefit increase to those members in TRS1 and PERS 1 plans can easily be seen as NTIB (Necessary to Implement the Budget) so will remain alive until Session ends.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss Future Educators Month and our Future School Leaders Day, our “Give ‘em your keys” campaign, Black History Month, nominations for Principal and Assistant Principal of the Year, a new survey out about graduation pathway options, our HB 1599 Fact or Fiction series, a new graduation requirements workshop, a new texting service from the Washington Student Achievement Council, 2020 WA State Teacher of the Year Amy Campbell, the next issue of Washington Principal magazine, and an event on March 9th organized by the Koshka Foundation for Safe Schools.

Proposed bills have now either passed their respective chambers and are awaiting further action in the opposite house, or they are ‘dead’. Remember that no bill is really ‘dead’ until Sine Die. Bills with fiscal impacts can be deemed ‘necessary to implement the budget’ (NTIB) or just plain deemed necessary by a majority of a legislative body. Bills now move relatively quickly with public hearings and often same-day executive sessions.