Many of your colleagues from Edmonds, Northshore and Shoreline spent May 13-16 in the Spokane Convention Center, attending the WEA-Representative Assembly. Delegates from NSEA, SEA, EEA, SESPA and NESPA representing certificated and classified staff from throughout the Cascade UniServ Council joined with approximately 1,000 of their colleagues from all around the state at the WEA’s annual meeting.

At this year’s RA, many important business items were voted on and delegates heard from several education and political leaders. Here are some highlights:

  • Mary Lindquist, WEA President, opened the RA by discussing the challenges and facing WEA, our successes and Race To The Top.
  • Gov. Christine Gregoire spoke to the delegation about Race To the Top and School Funding.
  • Bill Gates, Sr. addressed the delegates who were inspired by his speech to overwhelmingly support I-1098 which calls for a High End Income Tax on individuals making more than $200K and couples making more than $400K.
  • Dennis Van Roekel, National Education Association President, spoke to the delegation about Ed Reform and Race To The Top Grants.
  • Delegates voted to:
    o Support a High End Income Tax
    o Boycott Arizona
    o Not Restrict Local Options To Deal With Ed Reform

WEA-Cascade would like to thank ALL of our WEA-RA delegates for taking time away from the classrooms and families to attend this important conference!

A complete list of the new business items and resolutions delegates voted on and the outcome of those votes can be found below.


For more information, please visit the WEA’s website (www.washingtonea.org). They’ll be posting videos from RA—including the speeches from Bill Gates, Sr. and Dennis Van Roekel—soon. Facebook users can follow WEA here (http://bit.ly/dCoQk3). And don’t forget to “like” our Local Associations on Facebook: NSEA (http://bit.ly/9lExRF), SEA (http://bit.ly/c3juAD), EEA (http://bit.ly/9S4HWh).

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New Business Items

New Business Item #1: Federal Forest Monies Referred To Committee
This NBI would change how federal forest monies would be distributed to school districts.

New Business Item #2: Arizona Boycott Passed
This NBI prohibits WEA from sending delegates or members to events, conferences, trainings, assemblies, or meetings that are held in Arizona so long as their new immigration law is in effect.

New Business Item #3: Electrical Transmission Lines Passed
This NBI directs the WEA President to consider writing a letter to the Bonneville Power Administration regarding concerns for the health and safety of school employees and students due to the proximity of power lines.

New Business Item #4: Posting of Board Meeting Minutes Withdrawn

New Business Item #5: Posting Board Agenda In Advance Withdrawn

New Business Item #6: First and Second Reading for Comprehensive Board Decisions Out of Order

New Business Item #7: Dues Spent of Initiatives and Referenda Failed
This NBI would have directed WEA to email members concerning decisions to spend dues dollars on political campaigns.

New Business Item #: Estimated Cost List Failed
This NBI would have required the WEA to provide a list of basic action items and their costs for the 2011 delegation packets.

New Business Item #9: Disavow the Turnaround and Closure Models of Ed Reform Failed
This NBI would have removed these options from consideration as ed reforms for struggling schools.

New Business Item #10: Use The Reading Research Passed
This NBI recommends that all members review the reading research available at www.nationalreadingpanel.org.

New Business Item A: High End Income Tax Passed
This NBI endorses and supports Initiative 1098 which would create an income tax for individuals earning $200,000 and above and $400,000 and above for couples.

New Business Item B: Common Sense Education Reform Passed
This NBI directs the WEA to provide leadership, strategic thinking, and focus in the following areas: training, collect and organize research, delink any state required assessment from graduation requirements.

New Business Item C: ESEA Reauthorization Passed
This NBI states the WEA will state clearly what ed reforms we endorse and to coordinate internally and with external allies to shape ESEA reauthorization.

New Business Item D: Transitioning from Active to Retired Membership Passed
This NBI directed WEA and WEA Retired to form a joint task force to address issues of transition from active membership to involved retiree membership.

New Business Item E: Awareness of VEBA Programs Passed
This NBI directed the WEA to provide assistance to UniServ Councils and their locals in obtaining information about VEBA accounts for sick leave cash out

New Business Item F: Pro Teach Support Program Passed
This NBI directed the WEA to explore how to best support teachers in the Pro-Teach portfolio process.

New Business Item G: Harkins Education Job Bill Action Passed
This NBI encourages members to contact Senator Murray for signing onto the bill while encouraging Senator Cantwell to sign on soon.

New Resolutions

New Resolutions #1: Living Wage for All Education Employees Passed
This NR institutionalizes support for Living Wage Campaigns in locals.

New Resolution #2: Presence of Certified Medical Professionals Failed
This NR would have stated the WEA desire to have certified medical professionals at all contact sporting events.

New Resolution #3: Employment and English Accents Passed
This NR states the WEA objection to any legislation or regulations that restrict, prevent, or eliminate, education employment based on one’s accent.

New Resolution #4: Promotion of Peace Passed
This NR states the WEA believes in building awareness, understanding and acceptance of others and promoting peace and conflict resolution for students and school staff members.

New Resolution #5: Bargaining Member Rights Passed
This NR states that the WEA supports local bargaining to defend members’ rights related to: performance pay based on test scores; erosion of seniority; turn around and closure models of school transformation.

Amendment To Continuing Resolution D-8 Failed

Amendment To Continuing Resolution E-16 Passed
This CR states support of consultation time along with plan time for ESP members.

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