K-12 finance study launched
A long-sought study of Washington’s K-12 financing system is underway with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s appointment of members to the state’s new Task Force on Basic Education Finance. The task force, which includes Seattle School Board President Cheryl Chow and superintendents Betty Hyde (Bremerton) and Jim Kowalkowski (Davenport), has one year in which to develop recommendations for a new K-12 funding structure. The task force’s first deadline is a little more than a month away, when it must lay out a timeline for accomplishing its responsibilities. For more on the task force, visit the governor’s Web site.

And the candidates are…
WSSDA Nominating Committee Chair Quent Goodrich (Chimacum) has just reported out the committee’s slate of WSSDA officer candidates for 2008. The candidate for the position of WSSDA President-elect is Martha Rice (Yakima); the candidates for the position of WSSDA Vice President are Mary Fertakis (Tukwila) and Karen Madsen (Everett). Voting takes place at the WSSDA Annual Conference in November. Look for more information in WSSDA’s Guide to the Candidates, which will be published in the October issue of WSSDA.org and on the WSSDA Web site.

Twelve Regional Meetings on tap
Another round of WSSDA’s Regional Meetings begins next month with sessions scheduled in 12 locations around the state: Endicott (9/10), Chattaroy (9/11), Touchet (9/12), Kelso (9/27), Graham (10/3), Everett (10/4), Yakima (10/9), Aberdeen (10/10), Moses Lake (10/10), Omak (10/11), Chimacum (10/13) and Burien (10/18). Meeting details and online registration are available on the WSSDA Web site. Also, be sure to contact your Director Area representative on the WSSDA Board of Directors with your suggestions on topics for roundtable discussions.

PESB wants input on endorsement recommendations
The Professional Educator Standards Board is looking for feedback on its recently released recommendations for revising the requirements for an elementary education endorsement. A description of the recommendations is available on the PESB Web site (PDF). To provide input, please contact Nasue Nishida at the PESB – 360/725-6238.

Applicants sought for Leadership WSSDA
School directors with at least four years of board service are invited to apply for selection to Leadership WSSDA, the association’s premier training program for school board members. Applications are due Oct. 1 and can be completed online. For online forms and complete details about the program, visit the WSSDA Web site.

Register now for Legislative Assembly
WSSDA’s Legislative Assembly is your opportunity to shape association positions on a host of issues that will be up for consideration when the Legislature meets again in January. Be sure your district is represented at the Assembly, which takes place Sept. 21-22 in Yakima. Learn more here.

Deadlines approaching for award submittals
Entries for WSSDA’s School Boards of the Year and Diversity Awards are due soon. Submittal deadlines are Sept. 14 for Boards of the Year and Sept. 28 for Diversity Awards. Complete information and submittal forms are available on the WSSDA Web site. Also, nominations for the American School Board Journal’s annual Magna Awards are due Oct. 1.

RETURN TO TOP