Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/437000
WINTER 2014 | WEAnews 16 JEC On January 13 th the Wyoming Legislature will convene for the 2015 general session. During the 40-day session, the legislature will work on many issues, as well as the supplemental budget. The Governor has submitted his supplemental budget to the Joint Appropriations Committee, and they will bring their recommendations to the legislature. In addition, the legislature will work on other issues, including school accountability. WEA has been active in following the issues that affect our members. WEA has attended meetings of the Select Committee on Statewide Education Accountability, Joint Education Committee, Joint Appropriations Committee, and others. We have worked with members of the Education Coalition to monitor these issues as well as to provide input. School funding has not received a full ECA (external cost adjustment) since the 2008-2009 school year. The Joint Education Committee recommended an ECA for the next school year, and the Joint Appropriations Committee approved part of the ECA for next year. Governor Mead has placed the full ECA recommendation from the JEC in his budget. WEA will work for the JEC and Governor's recommendation this year. School districts have trimmed budgets as much as possible and are now starting to feel the pinch. We will work with the Education Coalition on the ECA issue. We anticipate an attack on the Wyoming Retirement System. There will be an attempt to change Wyoming's retirement system from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan. WEA has begun working as a member of the Coalition for a Healthy Retirement System to keep our defined benefit plan in place. The Select Committee on Statewide Educational Accountability continued work on accountability legislation. The work on educator and administrator evaluations will continue but the Select Committee is bringing a bill to push back the implementation dates. WEA is supportive of taking the time to make sure this work is done right. ACCOUNTABILITY RETIREMENT EXTERNAL COST ADJUSTMENT • The Wyoming Retirement System is NOT in a crisis. • Wyoming's average retirement pension income for 2013 was only $17,555 per year or $1,463 a month (Source: WRS) – not what anyone would call a "Cadillac Plan." • Wyoming students have suffered in some districts where staff have been cut. So, what we need is a serious conversation about school funding. Wyoming needs properly funded schools to insure all Wyoming students have more one-on-one attention, inviting classrooms, and a well-rounded curriculum. We need to pay for things students need. • Wyoming students have been negatively affected because of the lack of funding. Districts have started laying off staff, cutting employee hours, and increasing class sizes – which leads to less one-on-one time, leaving some students struggling. • We must ensure every child's teacher in Wyoming has the technology, books, etc., they need to reach, teach and inspire. • The focus of improving education should be to ensure quality instruction for our students. • More than 81% of that money stays in Wyoming, and flows to nearly every community in the state. The ripple effect of these payments helps to stabilize and stimulate both state and local economies. Changing those benefits would have dire consequences in Wyoming. • We support evaluation approaches that tell us what's working and direct us to fix what isn't. • These same evaluation approaches should tell us which educators have the tools and skills they need to excel and which require more support, mentoring or redirection to get there. WEA will be supporting the Governor's recommendation for community college capital construction project funding. We also will be supporting legislation that will create a funding system for the community colleges that is fair and predictable. COMMUNITY COLLEGES Keep informed of what is happening during the legislative session! Sign up for the WEA Legislative Update. To sign up for the update, send an email to wylegislativeupdates@gmail.com. Action WYOMING LEGISLATIVE UPDATE WYOMING LEGISLATIVE UPDATE Together We Succeed!