Ready, set … vote!

School board members around the state are now receiving ballots for the State Board of Education election. Completed ballots must be returned to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, postmarked no later than Wednesday, Nov. 23.

If you’re looking for more information on the candidates running for the State Board, you’ve got plenty of options. Your ballot mailing includes a voters guide prepared by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. The guide, which features photographs and statements from the candidates, is available in electronic format on the OSPI Web site (PDF file).

WSSDA is also offering a variety of opportunities for school directors to meet the candidates during our upcoming Annual Conference in Seattle, including a special Candidates Forum from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Westin Hotel. You don’t need to be registered for the conference to attend the forum. Click here for more information.

Remember, the Legislature and state policymakers will be watching this election to see if school board members are doing their part to select State Board members. It could be a “use or lose it” proposition, so be sure to fill out your ballot and return it by the Nov. 23 deadline.

Countdown to Annual Conference

Less than two weeks to go to the kickoff of the 2005 WSSDA Annual Conference in Seattle. We’ve got a great program this year, featuring outstanding speakers such as Christine Gregoire, Terry Bergeson and Eric Liu, nearly 100 workshop sessions on K-12 education topics, and a full array of exhibitors showing the latest in education-related programs and services. There’s still time to register, so visit wssda.org/annualconference and sign up today.

Communicating the value of Annual Conference to your community

You know the value of attending professional development activities like the WSSDA Annual Conference, but sometimes it’s a hard sell in your community. The National School Boards Association has an excellent tip sheet on how to be proactive in communicating the value of attending its national conference—advice that works equally well for our state conference. The tip sheet is available on the NSBA Web site

Make sure your district is represented at Delegate Assembly

This year’s WSSDA Delegate Assembly has several important proposals on the agenda, including changing the association's weighted vote structure, making the WSSDA Interscholastic Activities Committee a standing committee, and a 2.5 percent dues increase. (For a PDF copy of the agenda and proposals, click here.) The Assembly, held in conjunction with the WSSDA Annual Conference, takes place Friday, Nov. 18 at the Seattle Westin. This is the association’s business meeting, so be sure your board is represented during the deliberations.

Delegates can file proposals with the WSSDA Resolutions Committee until Nov. 16 at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact WSSDA's Cindy Sands (360/252-3018).

Alternative assessments update

Judging by your questions at this fall’s WSSDA Regional Meetings, there is considerable interest in how OSPI is coming along in developing alternative assessments as required by legislation approved in 2004. Alternative assessments are intended for students who have the knowledge and skills required for high school graduation, but for one reason or another, can’t demonstrate them on the WASL.

OSPI reports that four options have emerged from a comprehensive review process, and two of those options are being piloted during the current school year in about 20 high schools, skills centers and alternative schools across the state. One model would create a GPA/WASL index through a combination of WASL scores and grade-point averages in specific classes; the other is a performance-based option in which students submit a collection of their work to demonstrate they meet WASL standards in a particular subject area. According to OSPI, the final option proposed to the Legislature likely will include a combination of these two measures. For additional information, see our online article and OSPI's Web site.

Save the date for Legislative Conference

The 2006 WASA/WSSDA Legislative Conference is scheduled for Feb. 12-13 at the Red Lion Hotel in Olympia.  This is an opportunity to get the latest information on K-12 legislation and speak directly with your state legislators about issues that impact your district.  Information and registration will be available in the mail and on the Web in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, be sure to mark those dates on your calendar.

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