Big Education Discussion Tonight on Seattle Channel

Seattle Speaks will be talking about school funding.  This is a live event so nothing will be filtered or edited.  Program starts at 7 pm.

Joining the panel discussion are Betty Patu, Seattle School Board president; Eden Mack, Seattle Council PTSA and Washington’s Paramount Duty; Stephen Nielsen, deputy superintendent, Seattle Public Schools; State Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37th), chair of the House Education Committee, and State Sen. Michael Baumgartner (R-6th), member of the Senate Higher Education Committee. Front-row guests include Phyllis Campano, president-elect, Seattle Education Association; Sheila Edwards Lange, co-chair of the Mayor’s Education Summit and interim president, Seattle Central College; and Melissa Westbrook, Seattle Schools Community Forum.
This event is sponsored by Seattle Channel, Seattle CityClub and Town Hall Seattle. Seattle Channel is cable channel 21 (HD on Comcast 321 and Wave 721) and online. Join the conversation in person or online, where you can take part in online polls and voice your opinion via e-mail and social media using the hashtag #SeattleSpeaks.

Comments

Charlie Mas said…
$100,000 a year for teachers if they will work 12 months a year, replace their pension with a 401(k), and give up tenure, except that teachers already work close to 12 months a year, they would have a 403(b) rather than a 401(k), and there is no tenure in K-12 education in Washington. So this guy sounds like he doesn't know what he's talking about.
4/19/16, 7:34 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
I was wondering what the Senator thought all these teachers would be doing thru the summer - turns out he likes year-round school (which one teacher in the audience said she would like.)

I gave him credit for coming into the lion's den.
4/19/16, 8:52 PM
Anonymous said…
Might be better if all the teachers became legislators instead. Less work, similar amount of pay for fewer days, state retirement system, no accountability.
Funny how not a one of the state legislators has volunteered NOT to take the state retirement, but they sure want to foist the 401Ks off on the teachers. What's good for the goose.....

CT
4/19/16, 10:22 PM
Anonymous said…
WA legislators can join PERS 2 or PERS 3, get payouts with 5 yrs of service on Plan 2, 10 yrs on plan 3. Sweet! Though Utah legislators have it better, with their own special Gov & Legislator plan that requires no contributions and pays out after 4 yrs of service.... No 401K for them, though they did gut the state retirement plans & teacher retirement plans a few years ago. It's good to be king!

CT
4/19/16, 10:29 PM
Watching said…
Some school districts use levy dollars to extend the school year. I'm not confident everyone would want a 12 month school year.

I agree with CT, we need more teachers in the legislature.

The legislature from Spokane made an interesting comment about sending an initiative to the voters that includes prek and college. There seemed to be a trend to include early learning and college into the definition of education. I'm wondering if there will be an initiative to fund this type of system.

Great group of panelists!
4/20/16, 7:59 AM
Watching said…
Correction....The legislator from Spokane...
4/20/16, 8:00 AM
Melissa Westbrook said…
I'll have a wrap-up of this event soon. I'll put up exactly what Senator Baumgartner said because it was a bit jaw-dropping (I almost never watch the speaker on the panels but I like to watch the other panelists' reactions.) Baumgartner doesn't have much of a poker face.
4/20/16, 9:53 AM
Watching said…
I've not found Senator Baumgartner to be respectful.

After the McCleary ruling, Baumgartner placed a bag of sand and a hammer on his desk. He was essentially telling the Supreme Court to go pound sand. As well, he spoke in favor of charter schools- on the senate floor- and accused the Supreme Court of being bought.

He is one person I'd like to see out of office.
4/20/16, 11:06 AM
Catherine said…
In the school 12-months a year plan - how do teachers handle getting advanced degrees and continuing education - both of which are either required or highly advisable?
4/20/16, 7:19 PM
Charlie Mas said…
I really like the idea of taking the legislature off the pension system and offering them a 403(b) or 457 plan instead.

This would make a good initiative.
4/21/16, 10:13 AM
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