AWSP Blog

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company announced the launch of a national initiative to bring the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces to 10 million U.S. children over the next five years. Through its Gro More Good program, Scotts Miracle-Gro will provide monetary grants, educational curriculum and training to communities across the U.S. in collaboration with its partners, with the goal of creating more gardens, greenspaces and refurbished outdoor play spaces for children.

The state Legislature is now about 40 percent through this year’s 105-day session and faces its second significant checkpoint on Friday, March 1. That’s the deadline for fiscal committees to send bills on for further action or leave them behind for the year. (Unless, of course, they are deemed necessary to implement the budget (NTIB)).

The first cut off is occurring as this is being written and next week will be the last cut-off deadline for all fiscal bills. The legislative field will then be winnowed down, and the focus will shift toward floor action and behind the scenes’ discussions over the budget.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss Future Educators Month, our Future School Leaders Day workshop, and the Give ’Em Your Keys campaign; what’s happening in the Legislature; some of our recent blog posts; our opening for an Associate Director and the retirement of two icons; sharing your stories with us; and how we’re always here to pick up the phone when you need us.

Snowmageddon descended on Olympia, and things came to a halt, but now that the worst (we can hope) is over, the process is moving again. Agendas have been lengthened. As cut off dates approach the list of bills for executive action by individual committees grows long. This is a brief summary of bills that are either moving or should be pushed to move. The last section of this report has some suggested actions on bills that need support and advocacy in order to advance before cutoffs.

Ed reform. Those two words are a lightning rod for people in education and policy. They can strike fear and uncertainty for some and hope and visions of equity for others. One thing is for certain, many of the reforms borne out of the Race to the Top grant era have drastically changed the reality of what it’s like to be a school principal.

AWSP is closed for snow today (February 11), as are many districts across the state. FYI, we typically follow the Olympia School District for closures or late starts. Some of us are still checking email.

The session is still flowing toward cut off dates, when an observer can then more closely focus on what would appear to be potential ‘rocks’. Also, energies can be directed more specifically to advance critical bills that have survived the first cut. As a reminder, the cut off dates are: February 22 for policy bills and March 1 for fiscal bills.

Last session, the Legislature created the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). The SEBB will help ensure K-12 employees get the affordable, high-quality benefits they deserve. Washington state public employees have long been the beneficiary of a great health benefits program through the PEBB, and it's great to see similar benefits coming to school employees across the state.

Welcome to another episode of AWSP News, where we discuss delivering AWSP News to you through rain, sleet, or snow, African American History Month, our Future Educators Month and Future School Leaders Day workshop, revisit the Give 'Em Your Keys campaign, update you on what's happening with the Legislature, discuss our "Day on the Hill" and your advocacy, thank partners Capturing Kids' Hearts and Freshgrade, remind you to register for summer conference and a couple awards to nominate someone for, Ron's departure and hiring his replacement, and some contract negotiation resources for you on our website.