Support our teachers!
Elizabeth Pendleton
Parents -
Please join us in urging our legislators in Olympia to support bills that address teacher reduction in force. With budgets getting tighter, we face the possibility of layoffs of teachers throughout the state and the PTSA is concerned about keeping the best teachers in the classroom. A bill (SB5399 & HB1609) has been dropped in Olympia that addresses the RIF (Reduction in Force) and Seniority issue that is a top priority for Issaquah based on our community values document and our PTA platform. Senator Tom is the prime sponsor in the Senate, Litzow is also a sponsor. In the House, Pettigrew is the prime and Anderson, Hunter and Eddy are all sponsors. This bill has bipartisan support but it will never get a hearing if we don't urge the leadership- currently the Majority leadership is not in favor of this bill.
Please contact your legislators and urge them to support the bill, or if they have already signed on, to thank them for their support and how we can help support them. Please urge the leadership for a hearing of the bills. For those of you in the 41st LD- we really need Rep. Marcie Maxwell's support!
The message is simple- If we are going to be laying off teachers, then let's keep the best.
Legislative hotline: 1-800-562-6000
Here are email addresses for those you may want to contact.
Leadership: K-12/Early Senate Learning Chair: Rosemary....@leg.wa.gov
48th- Senator Tom (D) Rodne...@leg.wa.gov
41st- Senator Litzow (R) Steve....@leg.wa.gov
5th-Senator Pflug (R) Cheryl...@leg.wa.gov
Leadership:House K-12 Education Chair: Sharontom...@leg.wa.gov
48th- Rep. Ross Hunter (D) Hunte...@leg.wa.gov
48th- Rep Deb Eddy (D) Deb....@leg.wa.gov
41st-Rep.Marcie Maxwell (D) Marcie....@leg.wa.gov
41st- Rep. Judy Clibborn (D) Judy.C...@leg.wa.gov
5th- Rep. Glenn Anderson (R) Glenn.A...@leg.wa.gov
5th- Rep. Jay Rodne (R) Jay....@leg.wa.gov
Thanks!
Want more information? Links to the bills below should you be inclined to read them!
HB 1609 sponsored by Rep. Eric Pettigrew:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1609
<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1609&year=2011>
&year=2011
SB 5399 sponsored by Sen. Rodney Tom:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5399
<http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5399&year=2011>
&year=2011