Gregoire Versus Dorn: Let's Get Ready to Rumble
The Times has an article about the smackdown between Governor Gregoire and State Superintendent of Schools Randy Dorn. The issue is that the Governor is looking for more cuts and instead of prioritizing cuts, she's asked all state departments to submit cuts for taking 10% from their budgets. That would mean about $97M in nonbasic education cuts.
Dorn said no. He is refusing to submit any cuts, saying:
"I cannot, in good conscience, submit a budget ... that is consistent with (your) requirements," he wrote.
Now this is posturing because they largely protected K-12 last time around but now, cuts will be made. (He is also spending a bushel on Common Core standards which are less stringent than the Washington State standards. He could start there.)
The outcome?
And by not submitting a list of ideas to guide the Legislature — as all of the other agency directors have — Gregoire spokesman Cory Curtis says Dorn is making it harder for the state to make "the best decisions for the kids."
Various officials have weighed in:
School Board member Peter Maier, who is running for re-election this year. "The state needs to stop using cuts to K-12 education as an answer."
Glenn Bafia, the executive director of Seattle's teachers union, said further cuts would do "permanent harm to students."
But Marty McLaren, a former Seattle teacher now running for the School Board, dismissed the letter as "political posturing," although she said the state isn't adequately funding education.
Now the tussle with the Governor and Dorn isn't new:
But the two elected officials have clashed before. Most prominently, in January, when Dorn called the governor's plan to create a unified State Department of Education a "smoke screen." That plan, in which Dorn would have reported to the governor, never came to pass.
Of course, K-12 should be fully funded. Of course, the state hasn't been paying enough. BUT, there is less money. So what to do?
I would suggest that the Legislature make the cuts they think make sense. But they should pass something else that says that when the economy starts turning around, the first dollars go to education.
Thoughts?
Dorn said no. He is refusing to submit any cuts, saying:
"I cannot, in good conscience, submit a budget ... that is consistent with (your) requirements," he wrote.
Now this is posturing because they largely protected K-12 last time around but now, cuts will be made. (He is also spending a bushel on Common Core standards which are less stringent than the Washington State standards. He could start there.)
The outcome?
And by not submitting a list of ideas to guide the Legislature — as all of the other agency directors have — Gregoire spokesman Cory Curtis says Dorn is making it harder for the state to make "the best decisions for the kids."
Various officials have weighed in:
School Board member Peter Maier, who is running for re-election this year. "The state needs to stop using cuts to K-12 education as an answer."
Glenn Bafia, the executive director of Seattle's teachers union, said further cuts would do "permanent harm to students."
But Marty McLaren, a former Seattle teacher now running for the School Board, dismissed the letter as "political posturing," although she said the state isn't adequately funding education.
Now the tussle with the Governor and Dorn isn't new:
But the two elected officials have clashed before. Most prominently, in January, when Dorn called the governor's plan to create a unified State Department of Education a "smoke screen." That plan, in which Dorn would have reported to the governor, never came to pass.
Of course, K-12 should be fully funded. Of course, the state hasn't been paying enough. BUT, there is less money. So what to do?
I would suggest that the Legislature make the cuts they think make sense. But they should pass something else that says that when the economy starts turning around, the first dollars go to education.
Thoughts?
Comments
The projected $185 million dollar cost over 5 years was likely on the low side given that a lot of high tech infrastructure upgrades were not included.
#2.. The WA State Supreme Court needs to emerge from apparent hiding.
The school funding lawsuit brought by Network for Excellence in Washington Schools - known as McCleary v. State was decided on Feb 4, 2010.... (same day Superior Court ruled SPS HS math adoption was Arbitrary and Capricious) the State appealed McCleary to the Supreme Court ... It was heard and yet we are still waiting.
#3.. Paraprofessionals in WA state classrooms have seen hours reduced and take home pay decline in many instances by over $350 per month. When such personnel are used in situations with severely handicapped students ... this borders on malpractice.
#4.. the cuts to social service providers have been large as well... So the CCSS needs to go and soon. As Mr. Dorn's proposal had $165 million coming from local school districts to fund this. Students need better instruction and services .. Not more Tests from Pearson Publishing...
#5.. the fact that Mr. Obama and Mr. Duncan wish to create an ongoing situation that favors certain campaign contributors .... is no reason WA State must play that game ... and pay and pay.
-- Dan Dempsey
Poor soul
rom another discussion:
"Guess what about House Bill 1546, the innovation schools bill?
It's been submitted by ALEC legislators.
Here is the ALEC model bill:
http://alecexposed.org/w/images/5/53/2D12-THE_INNOVATION_SCHOOLS_AND_SCHOOL_DISTRICTS_ACT_Exposed.pdf
1546 as initially proposed:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1546.pdf
One of the proposers in the House, Jan Angel, is an ALEC legislator.
The proposer in the Senate, Doug Ericson, is also an ALEC legislator.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians#Washington_Legislators_with_ALEC_Ties
Welcome to the 21st century, where corporations WRITE OUR LAWS."
sorry, not time to make links live... but if you go check, you'll see that many, many parts of the Innovation Bill are identical to the ALEC template....
You might like to spend some time looking at who ALEC is and what its been up to lately...
And really, its welcome to the 21st Century where CORPORATIONS RUN OUR WORLD...
Am I the only one here who sees that as a problem?
Melissa - passing legislation that upon a turn around in the economy the first dollars would go to education is - well - naive. Legislation can, and has been, ignored in the past. Citizen initiatives (not just Eyman initiatives) passed by the voters are subject to change by the legislature after two years. Regular legislation can just as easily be up-ended by passing new legislation to repeal old legislation. And, there is no real political price to pay since this state is so heavily dominated by one party. Voting one person out only results in getting another person in there that eventually caves to stronger political forces.