Reminder: RTTT meetings coming in April
It's clear from this week's award of Race to the Top education grants to Delaware and Tennessee that local "buy-in" is an essential element of a successful state application. With that in mind, school districts are reminded that there will be two meetings in April to review a proposed Memorandum of Understanding that districts would approve to join in Washington state's forthcoming RTTT application. The meetings will take place April 8 in Renton and April 12 in Spokane. Both meetings start at 6 p.m. and both will be available as a videoconference on the K-20 network. For details, click here.

Deadline nears for comment on Common Core Standards
Another element of the RTTT application is state approval of Common Core Academic Standards, which are currently under development through an effort coordinated by the National Governors Association. (Legislation signed this week by Gov. Chris Gregoire includes provisional approval of the standards.) If you have feedback on the proposed standards, now is the time to offer it; the public comment period ends this Friday (April 2). To provide input online, go to www.corestandards.org.

Call for legislative proposals
True, the 2010 session of the state Legislature has not yet adjourned. Even so, it's time to start developing proposed WSSDA legislative positions for the next session in 2011. The WSSDA Legislative Committee has just issued its annual call for proposals and materials have been mailed to all school board legislative representatives around the state. We've also posted instructions and submittal forms on the WSSDA Web site. Be sure to set aside time for your board to discuss legislative issues for the coming year. Submittals are due by May 28.

Executive Director search update
Tomorrow (Wednesday, March 31) is the last day to submit applications for the WSSDA Executive Director position. The next step will be a review of the applications by the WSSDA Executive Search Committee. The committee will meet next Monday (April 5) from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at the Radisson Gateway Hotel in SeaTac. For more on the search process, click here.

WSSDA 2009 Annual Report online
WSSDA's 2009 Annual Report is now available on our Web site. Along with a review of the year's activities and successes, the report provides association financial information, including a revenue/expense report and a comparative statement of net assets. Be sure to see the cover of the Annual Report, which features a "driftwood alphabet" from Shaw Island School.

New photo galleries
We've created a new online space for displaying the many photos we take of school directors and WSSDA events. Our latest gallery additions include regional meetings, the Cultural Education Exchange and Leadership WSSDA — plus photos from the Federal Relations Network and the recent WSSDA/WASA Legislative Conference. See the galleries at wssda.smugmug.com.

Spring Regional Meetings continue in April
WSSDA's spring series of Regional Meetings continue next month with five sessions on the schedule: Granite Falls (4/8), Pasco (4/19), Sunnyside (4/20), Ellensburg (4/21), Cashmere (4/26) and Colfax (4/27). This is your opportunity to hear firsthand about issues such as Race to the Top, the new state accountability system and Core 24. It's also a great way to meet and network with your colleagues. Be sure to register and attend a meeting near you.

PDC F-1 due April 15
School board members: If you held office in 2009 and your district has 1,000 or more registered voters, you must file a Personal Financial Affairs Statement with the state Public Disclosure Commission no later than April 15. The form, commonly known as the F-1, can be filed electronically, by mail or in person. Forms and detailed instructions can be found on the PDC Web site. If you have questions, contact the PDC at 360.753.1111 (toll-free 877.601.2828) or pdc@pdc.wa.gov.

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