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Legislative Events

AESD Executive Services :

Dr. Jim Shoemake and Tom Kelly, AESD Executive Services

Dr. Jim Shoemake
WASA
825 5th Street S.E.
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360.943.5717
Fax: 360.352.2043
jshoe@harbornet.comt

Tom Kelly
WASA
825 5th Street S.E.
Olympia, WA 98501
Phone: 360.943.5717
Fax: 360.352.2043
t_k2007@comcast.net

Legislative Agenda

The AESD Executive Board meeting was held Thursday, November 15, 2007, at the Mayflower Hotel, in conjunction with the WSSDA Conference. The work session was held from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m., followed by dinner and the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m. See Legislative Agenda to see what the AESD Board approved for the 2008 Supplemental Session.

Professional Support provided by Dr. James Shoemake and Tom Kelly

The AESD Executive Board is pleased to have Dr. James Shoemake and Tom Kelly providing professional support for our association. Jim retired as Superintendent in Tacoma and also served as superintendent in Mukilteo and in Kansas. He has been an enthusiastic user and supporter of his local ESD and is strongly committed to the value of regional support for local schools. Dr. Shoemake has worked successfully on State policy issues and in the legislative arena and is well prepared to help AESD advance its goals during these critical times.

Tom Kelly served at OSPI for 6 1/2 years as Deputy for Administration and Support. Duties of Chief Operating Officer were added the last two years. Tom was superintendent at North Mason School District for four years. Tom served 30 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Colonel of Infantry. He and his wife Rae Ann have two married children, three grandchildren and two more arriving in the spring. His hobbies are cycling, golf, and hiking. He says, "Life is good!"

At the April 2007 Business Meeting the AESD membership approved increasing the level of professional support for the association. In June the Board identified the following areas in which Jim and Tom will direct their efforts:

  • ADVOCACY for ESDs with legislature and State agencies;
  • SYSTEM AND ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT with all ESDs;
  • LIAISON with other professional organizations and SPI
  • COMMUNICATION, both internal and external, and
  • OTHER priorities as identified by the Executive Board.

See Constitution 2006 for a copy of the approved AESD Constitution.

Reception Honoring Norm Wisner

Norm Wisner was honored August 20, 2007, at a special reception for his fourteen years of service as AESD Legislative Representative. The reception, held at the Southcenter Doubletree Suites Hotel, was hosted by AESD, ESD Superintendents, and The Beresford Company. Special guests included Norm's wife, Carol (shown to the left), and his family.

In the words of Bill Keim, ESD Superintendent Chair, "We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Norm for all he has done over the years to support the ESDs both with their own planning and with state policy makers. He has been part of an especially effective team during the past year in representing the ESDs and I don’t look forward to representing you for the second year of my term without Norm."

Tom Kelly joins Jim Shoemake in AESD Executive Services

The AESD Executive Board is pleased to have Dr. James Shoemake and Tom Kelly providing professional support for our association. At their October 3 meeting, the AESD Executive Board approved the legislative agenda for the upcoming 2008 Supplemental Session. Jim Shoemake and Tom Kelly are now engaged in efforts laying the ground work pursuing the priorities selected by the AESD Executive Committee.  Since this is a supplemental session, major initiatives are not likely but, nonetheless, it remains important to keep ESD concerns and priorities known to the legislature. See AESD Executive Services for an update on Jim and Tom's work.

See Legislative Services for more information.

Legislative Highlights 2007

AESD’s top priority for the 2007 legislative session was an increase in the core funding provided to ESDs by the legislature and to have the formula for funding be recognized.

The legislature provided an increase of $3.176 million, short from the $10.4 million requested and in the process did not establish the formula we requested.  However, in their deliberations to support school improvement in mathematics and science they provided $5.4 million for staffing and placed this funding in the core allocation.  This is noteworthy as it provides us with the opportunity to increase the core by funding the formula and a precedent to fund specific programs in the core.  This is a start to providing more stable funding inside the core.

AESD’s second priority was recognition of the ESDs as a regional delivery system.  This was evident in several bills and in the budget, especially in 2SSB 5955.  This bill provided $39 million for schools and districts to train math and science teachers.  The ESD and OSPI are directed to form a partnership to develop and offer training to math teachers in 2007-08 and science teachers in 2008-09.   Funds to develop and operate this program will come from fees to districts and the $5.4 million in core dollars. See 2007 Legislative Highlights for more information.

K-12 Subcommittee presentation:

ESD 113 Superintendent Bill Keim and team shared a K-12 Subcommittee Legislative Briefing presentation "Regional Support for Washington Education" in Olympia on January 24, 2007. The presentation seemed to be well received and led to some very meaningful discussions with key House leaders after the hearing. Please see Legislative Briefing to view a PDF copy of the PowerPoint.

AESD Legislative Conference Calls

To be announced