Naselle Youth Camp teachers Mike Matthews and Tim Kopp and Naselle High School student Jackie Stanley (with red had) were among the Pacific County people who participated in protests in Olympia last week of proposed rollbacks in teacher cost-of-living raises and classroom size reductions. Gov. Gary Locke wants the changes to help manage a $2.5 billion state deficit. KEVIN HEIMBIGNER photo

ILWACO – More than 25,000 educators from western Washington, including representatives from the Ocean Beach (OBSD) and Naselle Grays-River School Districts (NGRSD), converged on the state Capitol last Tuesday to show support for voter passed initiatives that are planned to be shelved by Gov. Gary Locke, or possibly even overturned by the Legislature.

The two measures in question are Initiative 728, which would reduce class size by hiring more teachers, and Initiative 732 which would give teachers cost-of-living raises. As part of a strategy to deal with a $2.4 billion budget deficit, Locke would like to delay 728 and suspend, for two years, 732. Together, those two changes would save the state about $550 million. The two initiatives were approved by voters by large margins three years ago.

“Funding for schools is not discretionary,” said Tim Copp, Naselle Greys-River Education Association president. Copp is also a teacher at Naselle High School. “This is the first round of what promises to be a good long battle.”

The battle that Copp refers to will feature membership of the Washington Education Association, parents and community members writing to their Legislators to voice concerns over the budget cuts.

The entire teaching staff of the NGRSD was given the day off to attend the event which took place in Olympia. Over 100 other school districts in the state afforded their teachers the same consideration. The OBSD sent four teachers, including Ocean Beach Education Association Co-President Miki Frace, who is a teacher at Ocean Park Elementary. The four teachers used association leave to attend the event, paid for by teacher union dues. Speakers at the rally including key figures in education on both the national and state level.

Two days following the event, Copp commented on Locke’s plan to suspend the implementation of the initiatives.

“Frankly, there’s nothing new there,” said Copp. “We’ve been hearing that for years. This budget crisis, this is nothing new. Schools have been in a budget crisis for over a decade.” Copp added that even during the economic boom of the 90s, there were no additional funding given to schools.

In addressing the issues, Frace said that the cost-of-living adjustment is not a raise, particularly.

“It’s keeping up. It’s so you can continue to pay your electric bill,” said Frace.

Copp sited that other states including California and Nevada teachers have seen pay increases while Washington educators have been holding steady for over six years prior to the vote. He said that they are $2,000 behind other western state averages for teachers salaries.

“It isn’t about whether the teachers get another raise,” said Copp. “All the teachers want to do is keep even.”

When it comes to smaller class size, Copp reminds that they aren’t a luxury, but rather the best way for students to learn. He also added that Washington is fourth worst in the nation in class size.

Frace said that she is fortunate in that she has a small class this year, but added that she has had upwards of 27 students in prior years.

“You lay awake at night and think, ‘Did I talk to Rachel today?'” said Frace. “It’s a scary thing to have 27 people that you’re responsible for.”

Frace mentioned a teacher who spoke at the rally who had an analogy for class size, saying, “President Bush talks about ‘No child left behind.’ It’s difficult to make sure no child is left behind when you can’t see the end of the line when walking down the hall.”

But if the state is dealing with a deficit already, then where do the funds come from to pay for these new additions? Copp mentioned that the only thing talked about is cutting the budget. However, he thinks that maybe raising more revenue would be the answer, which would come in the form of new taxes.

“We need a stable funding source that doesn’t rise and fall with the economy,” said Copp.

Gov. Locke reiterated his opposition to major new taxes as a solution to the state’s budget problems in his state of the state address on the same afternoon as the Day of Action rally. Locke asked that the teachers wait until the current economic hard times pass, but Copp said that he has heard this from Locke before.

“Wait two years? Yeah, I’d do that for Gary Locke if I felt that would matter – but it won’t,” said Copp. He went on to say that he believes if the public understands what the taxes are for, they will support them.

The one fear that Washington educators hold is that the Legislature may ax the initiatives before the two year wait is over.

In the third year after a voter approved initiative passes, the Legislature can overturn the measure with a simple majority vote – as opposed to a super-majority in the first two years following. There is nothing that can be done by educators or otherwise to stop or change that course of action if it does occur.

But Frace said that there is a trust by the people that the state government will abide by the will of the people.

“I believe the present Legislature will pay attention to the fact that 30,000 people were trampling the grass in Olympia, and all of those people are responsible people.”