WHEREAS, Washington’s constitution emphatically states that there is no higher priority than the education of all children; and

WHEREAS, the fundamental mission of Washington’s public schools is to ensure that all students possess the knowledge and skills to be responsible citizens and enjoy productive and satisfying lives; and

WHEREAS, adequate, stable funding is critical to the fulfillment of this mission; and

WHEREAS, resources provided through voter-approved school levies are essential to local school districts’ ability to provide a well-rounded, quality education to each student; and

WHEREAS, local levy dollars account for a significant portion of school district operating budgets in Washington; and

WHEREAS, despite their overarching mission, school districts are subject to obsolete laws that require a higher "supermajority" threshold for voter approval of school levies; and

WHEREAS, school levies are routinely supported by a majority of voters only to fail because of this unfair and antiquated threshold; and

WHEREAS, the supermajority requirement allows a minority of voters to obstruct resources for student learning when those resources are clearly supported by the majority; and

WHEREAS, EHJR 4204 would restore fairness and equity by allowing school levies to be approved by a majority of those voting;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of the Washington State School Directors’ Association strongly supports EHJR 4204 to allow citizens throughout the state to support student learning and success through simple majority approval of school levies.

Adopted May 19, 2007
Olympia, Washington