Concerned about education funding

As we approach the off-year legislative session here in Washington state we need to face a cold hard truth about the McCleary court decision and what will probably not happen this winter. I do not believe our legislative body will coming up with a solid plan to fund K-12 education. And why should they?

I believe the Supreme Court’s $100,000-a-day fine of the legislature is a joke. Let’s face it, no member of Washington state’s House or Senate cares about this fine because they know first hand that they will never have to pay it. In the end, the only people that will pay anything at all are the taxpayers, end of story.

If the Supreme Court were really serious about forcing a positive decision in this session they would lay out the ground work of exactly what and where the funding should come from and stop playing the back-and-forth game that most likely will continue. They should also require that if this can’t be done in the 69-day 2016 session, then members would be required, without further pay, to stay in Olympia until it is done. That, they might, take seriously.

And our teachers, statewide, should make it clear that they will strike as one cohesive group unless a complete and satisfactory resolution is achieved on their behalf!

This story was originally published December 14, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Concerned about education funding."