Legislative Recap
Legislative session ended at the end of April. This year was a budget session, a.k.a. a ‘long’ session, where a two year budget is created for Washington state. In Washington we are required to have a balanced budget so budget years can get quite heated.
There is good news and bad news from Olympia. A bunch of great bills died in session, but many of those will be brought back next year.
Here are a few bills which passed:
And education budget info:
There is good news and bad news from Olympia. A bunch of great bills died in session, but many of those will be brought back next year.
Here are a few bills which passed:
- No more personal belief exemptions for measles vaccination (only religious belief exemptions). If your kiddo is going to public school they need a measles vaccination.
- Age you are now able to purchase tobacco, e-cigarette and all vaping products has been increased to 21.
- Money has been allotted for low-to-median income students to attend college starting in 2020.
- High school students are no longer required to pass statewide tests to graduate.
And education budget info:
- Levy lid lift passed without money for charter schools.
- Beginning 2020 Seattle will be able to collect $3000 per student from local voter approved funds.
- According to SPS, school based cuts including librarians, counselors and assistant principals will be restored. However, other budget cuts will move forward.
- $155 million for additional special education funding.
- Capital gains tax died but an increased real estate tax on houses selling over $1.5 million.
Contact Seattle Schools Senior Staff and/or Directors
Rick Burke, School Board Director District II – Director Burke represents GLES
rick.burke@seattleschools.org , 206-252-0040
Director Burke, as do all of the Board Directors often have informal community meetings. To learn more
about Director Burke and when his community meetings are click here.
School Board - spsdirectors@seattleschools.org
School Board and Senior Staff - schoolboard@seattleschools.org
Denise Juneau, Superintendent - superintendent@seattleschools.org
Kelli Schmidt, Student Civil Rights Compliance Officer - klschmidt@seattleschools.org
Public records - publicrecords@seattleschools.org
Public Testimony - boardagenda@seattleschools.org
rick.burke@seattleschools.org , 206-252-0040
Director Burke, as do all of the Board Directors often have informal community meetings. To learn more
about Director Burke and when his community meetings are click here.
School Board - spsdirectors@seattleschools.org
School Board and Senior Staff - schoolboard@seattleschools.org
Denise Juneau, Superintendent - superintendent@seattleschools.org
Kelli Schmidt, Student Civil Rights Compliance Officer - klschmidt@seattleschools.org
Public records - publicrecords@seattleschools.org
Public Testimony - boardagenda@seattleschools.org
Register to Vote
Register to vote here.
Don’t know if you are registered to vote – check here!
Change your address where you’re registered to vote here!
Tips on how to vote – including what to do if you will be out of town during voting, replacing lost ballots
(guess what you can print your ballot out!!!), returning your ballot and what is on the ballot! All details here.
Important Voting Dates
Washington state has a primary (where we narrow it down to two candidates and vote on some ballot
measures) in August and the General election in November
school – in Green Lake Park, next to the Community Center
Don’t know if you are registered to vote – check here!
Change your address where you’re registered to vote here!
Tips on how to vote – including what to do if you will be out of town during voting, replacing lost ballots
(guess what you can print your ballot out!!!), returning your ballot and what is on the ballot! All details here.
Important Voting Dates
Washington state has a primary (where we narrow it down to two candidates and vote on some ballot
measures) in August and the General election in November
- Roughly first Monday in July - last day to register to vote online for the primary election
- Roughly a week prior to the primary election – last day to register to vote in-person for the primary
- First Tuesday in August – ballots due for the primary election
- Roughly Second Monday in October – last day to register to vote online for the general election
- Roughly a week prior to the general election – last day to register to vote in-person
- First Tuesday in November – ballots due for the general election
school – in Green Lake Park, next to the Community Center
Contact Your Elected Officials
Go to League of Women Voters website and enter your ZIP code, to learn who represents you, including
Federal (in DC) and State Legislators (in Olympia). Their contact information is included!
Click here to locate your Congressional, King County and City of Seattle voting districts
You can also go here to locate your City of Seattle voting district on a map and a list of councilmembers
with their contact information – hint most of us live in either District 6 (CM Mike O’Brien) or District 4
(CM Rob Johnson). Everyone is represented by the two at-large Councilmembers – Teresa Mosqueda and
Lorena González
And here to locate your King County voting district on a map and a list of councilmembers
Federal (in DC) and State Legislators (in Olympia). Their contact information is included!
Click here to locate your Congressional, King County and City of Seattle voting districts
You can also go here to locate your City of Seattle voting district on a map and a list of councilmembers
with their contact information – hint most of us live in either District 6 (CM Mike O’Brien) or District 4
(CM Rob Johnson). Everyone is represented by the two at-large Councilmembers – Teresa Mosqueda and
Lorena González
And here to locate your King County voting district on a map and a list of councilmembers