Legislative Program

Policy No. 1225  

Board of Directors  

Montesano School District No. 66  

School Director Legislative Program  

The board will represent the district’s interests in legislative action to promote the welfare of  public education in the state of Washington or will direct those interests to be represented  through its executive officer, the superintendent or designee.  

As a public entity, the board must operate within the bounds of state and federal laws affecting  public education. To effectively meet these responsibilities to the public and students of the  district, the board will work vigorously for the passage of new laws designed to advance the  cause of effective schools and for the repeal or modification of existing laws that impede this  cause. The board also supports a legislative program that fosters the maintenance of local control  in decision making and governance within the district.  

To achieve these goals, the board will periodically study, discuss and weigh the merits of  pending legislation for the purpose of establishing its official position through board action.  When established, these official positions will be the position of the district in the legislative  process.  

Board Legislative Activities  

The board will:  

A. Designate one of its members to serve as legislative representative with the Washington  State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA);  

B. Develop an annual legislative program through conferences with the WSSDA and the  National School Boards Association;  

C. Support and work for legislation that promotes the quality of education within the  Montesano School District, the region and the state of Washington;  

D. Commit to sending a team to the WSSDA/WASA Legislative Conference held each  February;  

E. Stay informed of pending legislation and actively communicate concerns and make its  position known to elected representatives at both the state and national levels by regular  contact with their legislators in-district, in Olympia and in Washington D.C;  

F. Seek adequate funding for schools and full funding for state and federally mandated  programs;  

G. Set aside board meeting time to discuss legislative issues, using resources such as  WSSDA’s Legislative Updates;  

H. Respond appropriately to requests for legislative proposals, comments on legislative  proposals, and development of priority positions;  

I. Ensure that local media representatives and legislators are invited to board meetings and  school activities;  

J. Work for the achievement of common legislative objectives with WSSDA and with other  concerned groups; and  

K. Inform the public of its legislative priorities and outcomes of its legislative efforts.  

Board members, individually or as members of professional organizations, will not represent  positions conflicting with the district’s positions on legislative matters unless it is made clear that  such representation is not the official position of the district.

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Policy No. 1225  

Board of Directors  

WSSDA Legislative Representative  

The board’s Washington State School Directors’ Association legislative representative serves as  the contact person and acts as the coordinator of the board’s state legislative activities. The  legislative representative also serves as the board’s liaison with the Washington State School  Directors’ Association Legislative Assembly. The legislative representative will assume office  July 1 in an even year for a two-year period. The legislative representative will:  

A. Attend Washington State School Directors’ Association Legislative Assemblies  conveying local views and concerns to that body and participating in the formulation of  state legislative programs;  

B. Monitor proposed education legislation; and  

C. Inform the board of pending legislative issues and existing or proposed WSSDA  legislative positions.  

Cross References: Board Policy 1220 Board Officers and Duties of Board  Members  

Legal References: Chapter 28A.345 RCW Washington State School Directors’  Association  

Management Resources:  

Policy News, August 2009 Role of the Board Legislative  

Representative  

School District Name: Montesano  

Revised: 8.09; 12.11  

Classification: Discretionary

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