School directors can establish themselves as key resource people and in return expect legislators to give credibility to the things they say if they are well informed.

WSSDA's Daily Legislative Telephone update, 1-800-822-9937: A toll-free 24-hour line during legislative session with daily recorded messages detailing current legislative information especially for WSSDA members. Text of these messages are also available on  WSSDA's Web Page.

The Legislatures Hotline 1-800-562-6000 This is the legislatures toll-free hotline. Call this number to find out the status of bills and to leave messages for legislators. This does not give you direct access to legislators, but you can obtain individual legislators phone numbers from the hotline operator.

A hotline operator usually can find the name and number of a bill if given the general subject, and, upon request, will mail a copy of a bill to you. The operator also can give the committee which is considering the bill, the name and phone number of a staff member for that committee and the status of the bill. The committee staff member can then be contacted for information about what a bill does, who is sponsoring it and when it will be considered by the committee.

When calling the hotline number, have an outline before you of what information you are seeking and/or for whom you want to leave a message. Make sure the message is clear and concise and that you identify yourself so the legislator knows who left the message. Also, don't just ask for a yes or no vote; lawmakers want rational reasons to vote one way or another.

Other ways to keep informed about legislation include:

• newspaper, radio and television news reports;
• IMPACT, the legislative newsletter published weekly during legislative session by the WSSDA staff. In the interest of getting messages to local board members as fast as possible, these newsletters are sent to the legislative representatives of each board who is then responsible for notifying the other directors in the district;
• other WSSDA periodicals and special publications;
• legislative committee hearings with bills being discussed which are of concern to education; and
• WSSDA regional meetings, satellite broadcasts and/or special legislative meetings.

There is a lot of support available to you . . . from WSSDA's staff to the WSSDA Legislative Committee members representing your Director Area. Dan Steele is your WSSDA staff legislative liaison. Please call him with your input, concerns, rumors, questions, etc. Call your WSSDA Legislative Committee members when you have a suggestion or question or when you need assistance. Get to know their phone numbers -- and use them.