I wrote this article for Clarkcountytoday.com Area resident Dick Rylander asks Clark County school districts to confirm their policies on the controversial issue Dick Rylander for Clark County Today Many people are interested in knowing what their school district’s policy is regarding biological males, who self identify as female, and want to compete against females. I reached out to the school districts in Southwest Washington state to find out. I make no judgment. I merely offer their responses. If you want more details please contact your district’s superintendent and/or school board members and pose your questions and share your thoughts. Question posed: Has the … [Read more...]
Union contracts are keeping kids from learning
From American Thinker. Please note that Chris Reykdal is running for his 3rd term as the State Superintendent of Schools. He owns Washington States poor test scores and among the best (highest) paid teachers in the United States. He's asking for another $3-$4 BILLION dollars! Last year, only five percent of Detroit Public Schools Community District students scored proficient, even as 99% of teachers were rated “highly effective” or “effective.” Baltimore Public Schools had a similar story: in 23 schools, not one student scored proficient in math. Yet, these schools and districts continue unchanged today. These two examples might seem extreme. But they are not the exception. Sadly, … [Read more...]
Weighted Vote change in Washington State – Victory for parents
Last month a very important step towards equality was taken by the Washington State School Directors Association or WSSDA. A by-law which had been in place since 1986, called the “weighted vote”, was eliminated. The results will be an equal voice for all school districts at WSSDA. WSSDA is the association that creates model policies for all Washington school districts. It sets legislative priorities and lobbies legislators for changes to laws. It also provides training and insurance for all school board directors in the state. The membership consists of one representative from each school district, and these members vote on the WSSDA board and committee members. Every September WSSDA … [Read more...]
House Bill 1353 – Reducing school bond approval from 60% to 50% +1: A Constitutional Amendment
Back in 2007 the legislature reduced the approval requirement for levy's to 50% +1 from the historical 50% supermajority. The change was made at the request of school districts around the state who complained levy's failed too often and needed to be easier to pass. Left in place was the requirement that capital bonds require a 60% approval to pass. Fast forward to 2023. A new House Bill #1353 attempts to reduce the 60% to 50% plus one. Why? Because school districts across the state complain it's too hard to get voter approval so they need a lower threshold to get bonds passed. Teachers unions want the newest and best facilities. Votes who support schools no matter the cost want easier … [Read more...]
Do school districts inhibit “Con” positions on bonds and levies?
We bring you an "Op-Ed" by a reader who shares their thoughts on the process school districts go through to find people to write the "Pro" and "Con" positions on bonds and levy's. WA school districts are supposed to be teaching about constitutional republics and their associated checks and balances. School districts should be encouraging a lively debate on political issues including their own tax measures that are on the ballot. But are they? Almost all school districts, with measures on the Feb 2023 ballot across the state, may be failing to practice what they are supposed to be preaching and teaching. By state statute, school districts are supposed to find pro … [Read more...]
K-12: Is teaching climate change indoctrination or science?
The best way to change the future is to control what children learn and think. Feed children information and shape their view of the world and guide their moral judgment. There is a major effort to teach children that climate change is real...that it is bad...and that the children must become the solider's of change. The original post was at Real Clear Investigations: Public school districts are adopting curricula on climate change from well-funded progressive groups casting the issue as a threat to life on the planet that students should respond to through activism. As of fall 2020, 29 states and the District of Columbia have adopted standards that require science … [Read more...]
WSSDA: State-sponsored Theft from Students?
Republished with the approval of the author: Nancy Churchill WSSDA is an agency which was created in 1983 by Chapter 28A.345 of the Revised Code of Washington. Chapter 28A.345 defines the agency’s duties, membership, and powers, and it was defined as “The public necessity for the coordination of programs and procedures pertaining to policymaking and to control and management among the school districts of the state... and in the furtherance of such coordination there is hereby created for said purpose an agency of the state…” (bit.ly/307aUgy, emphasis added). In fulfilling its duties, this agency is required “to take such action as the association deems advisable to effect a … [Read more...]
Historic change in special elections and levies
The week of April 26th 2021 was historic. It was the last levy that didn’t require a voter pamphlet. Until now school districts (and other entities) could run special elections but were NOT required to provide pro and con statements in writing with the ballot. With this change all special elections will require a written statement on yes and no votes. This change will increase the cost of a special election due to the voter pamphlet requirement. It will also cause election departments to search out people to write the pro and con statements. Until now it’s sometimes been hard to find people to write the No position. Going forward if someone in the local boundaries won’t write the No … [Read more...]
WA State School Superintendents and Asst. Superintendents total compensation report
Are Superintendents and Asst. Superintendents paid too much? Does the size of the school district make any difference? What’s the cost per student for the Superintendent piece of the pie? In today's article we share information from Jeff Heckathorn’s website. He’s assembled some data that you may find interesting. Specifically he looked into the costs from the leadership side of school districts. Let’s look at Superintendents: Total Compensation For Superintendents Vs Enrollments | The School Data Project : In 2019/2020 the highest paid District Superintendent was...Vancouver SD in Vancouver, WA. Slightly over 20,000 students. Certainly one of the larger districts in the state but far … [Read more...]
Covid – Teachers Unions – Returning children to school in Washington State
In March 2020 schools were closed in Washington State. Many thought it would be temporary. The impact on children was unknown but there was a large concern that they could be a "disease vector" and spread the virus. School districts scrambled madly to institute online learning programs...but it was a disaster. Going into June/July districts expected to be able to either restart school as normal in September or, at worst, move to a "hybrid model" where students were physically in class 2 or 3 days a week and "remote" 2 days. The districts planned for that and felt they were prepared. But, like all good plans, it was for naught. The governor decided there would be no "in person" school and … [Read more...]