ADVOCACY UPDATE
submitted by: Laura Lichtman, Advocacy Chair on October 3, 2021
Advocacy! Getting our voices heard in helping our children reach their fullest potential.
School Board Meetings
All residents are welcome to attend regular board meetings. The board provides a public comment period at the beginning of each meeting. During public comments, individuals may address the school board. Those interested in speaking should sign up prior to the meeting on a sheet available at the back of the board room. Meetings are usually held on the second Monday of the month at 4pm and the fourth Monday at 7pm.
Until further notice, meetings will be held in person with COVID-19 safety protocols in place in accordance with Governor Inslee’s Phase 3 guidelines. Seating will be limited and community members must register ahead of time. To learn about attending a meeting and providing public comments in person or virtually, visit NSD's Attend a School Board Meeting page. (update: 5/28/2021)
Several hundred stakeholders participated in the development of this community-wide strategic plan, including students, parents, and caregivers, educators, community members, members of the Board of Education, and leaders from local government, business, higher education and community-based organizations. Therefore, everyone has a stake in its promise and a role in its successful implementation. The plan consists of three key components: NSD’s Goals and Measures for learning, growth, and excellence for every student; The Four Building Blocks & Professional Practices that anchor effective instruction in every school and every classroom, every day; The Educational Strategies that will sustain an equitable, hightrust, responsive, and continuous learning culture, thereby ensuring that each student meets or exceeds high standards of academic and social-emotional success.
Review the Strategic Plan here.
WSPTA Advocacy Updates
Visit WSPTA’s Blog which is updated frequently during the legislative session.
WSPTA Legislative Platform
Top Five Legislative Priorities
Also Supported (listed alphabetically)
(More details on each of the Top Five Legislative Priorities and Supported Issues above.)
Northshore School District COVID-19 Resources:
https://www.nsd.org/covid19
OSPI Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance & Resources for families:
https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/press-releases/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-resources
Skyview Middle School: Laura Litchman
Northshore Council: Jennifer Drury & Diana Christiansen
Region 6: Heidi Bennett
Washington State PTA Legislative Director: Lizzy Sebring
Let your state legislators know how important funding our children’s education is to you via emails and/or phone calls! Click HERE to go to the Washington State Legislative page for contacts.
Please see the following helpful advocacy links to read legislative news and keep up on WSPTA’s advocacy through their Grassroots Connection blog.
Northshore School District: School Board Contacts
https://www.nsd.org/our-district/leadership/school-board
Washington State PTA Region 6
https://www.wastatepta.org/pta-leaders/pta-regions/region-6/
Northshore Council PTSA 6.10
http://www.northshorecouncilptsa.org/
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
Chris Reykdal, Superintendent (elected position)
https://www.k12.wa.us/
Ask OSPI a question:
https://www.k12.wa.us/about-ospi/contact-us/online-forms/ask-ospi
Washington State PTA Advocacy Site
http://www.wastatepta.org/advocacy
National PTA Advocacy Site
https://www.pta.org/home/advocacy
National PTA Advocacy Toolkit
http://www.pta.org/advocacy/content.cfm?ItemNumber=1927&navItemNumber=558
Are you registered for the next election? Register to vote (or update your voter registration) with the Washington Secretary of State - https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/register.aspx
