Advocacy
There are three WSPTA advocacy activities for your immediate attention:
1) The 2010 WSPTA Legislative Issue Guide and Member Survey are posted at the WSPTA website – please read the Issue Guide, fill out and return the Survey to me by 6:00 PM Wednesday Oct. 6th at byron@byronshutzjr.org.
Please forward this link to your school community to get their input too about the issues so as to inform our delegate(s) to the Legislative Assembly in October. The Survey is not meant to be used alone but with Issue Guide to learn more about each issue:
· Issue Statements
· WSPTA Staff Explanation
· WSPTA Staff Analysis
· Statements by the Issue Submitters
· WSPTA Board/Committee recommendations
2) Legislative Assembly is Oct. 8-9 at the SeaTac Marriot. Our LC is a delegate, but we can have two – let our PTSA President know if you are interested. There will be informative speakers, classes, training, debates, plus time to develop action plans and to network with fellow advocates. The Leg. Assembly webpage has registration info - Click Here.
3) 2010 Ballot Initiatives WSPTA Webpage - there are important initiatives and a referendum on the November ballot. WSPTA created a new webpage to provide easy access to information about the initiatives, WSPTA positions, and links to campaign efforts that WSPTA has endorsed - Click Here.
Questions, returning your Survey, or interest in attending Leg. Assembly? Please contact Byron, our Advocacy / Legislation Chair 2010-11, at byron@byronshutzjr.org.
Thanks for doing all that you do for our kids and community!
CASE FOR SPACE: Addressing School Overcrowding - Capital Levy 2011
The scramble was on to find enough classroom space for all the students arriving through District doors in September. Over 620 more students showed up, exceeding increased enrollment projections. By 2012, there will be over 1,000 more students than our classrooms can accommodate. The move to four-year high schools in 2012 actually helps, by moving students out of our overcrowded elementary schools and into the high school level, where more space is available.
Other strategies to handle the increased numbers of students include changing boundaries, running two shifts at high schools (morning and afternoon), adding portables, building new classrooms, and eventually building new schools.
Your input is needed at Public Input Sessions!
Please attend one of three input workshops to give the district your preferences and advice for meeting these space needs through a Capital Levy in February 2011. Come in any time during the hours scheduled to get information, ask questions, take the survey and make comments. Schedule:
Tuesday, September 28, Eastlake High School, 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, September 30, Juanita High School, 6-8 p.m.
Wednesday, October 6, L.E. Scarr Resource Center, Redmond Town Center, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
The Public Input survey will also be available on the District website this week--the survey will close Oct. 7.
While the District and School Board put forward and substantiate the levy measures to voters, the all-volunteer Lake Washington Citizens Levy Committee promotes the measures to the voters to pass. By State law, Districts can only “tell the facts” - the Committee can tell the whole story of consequences and actually ask people to vote “yes”. The Committee relies upon community volunteers and contributions to advertise and market the community benefits to supporting school levies. No school gets what it needs out of levies and bonds without voter support throughout the District - the Committee binds us into one District with one mission for every school.
More information on local school levies and the Feb. 2011 Capital Levy options may be found at the Lk WA Citizens Levy Comm. website.