Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/802239
SPRING 2017| WEAnews 4 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Kathy Vetter WEA President kvetter@wyoea.org The legislative session may be over, but the work on education policy and funding is not. So much of what happens in education policy and funding happens during the interim. This interim is going to be even more important than last year because the legislature passed the School Finance-Omnibus Education Funding bill which creates a Joint Select Committee on School Finance Recalibration. This committee will be made up of five representatives and five senators. They are tasked with doing a complete recalibration of the education resource block grant model. A recalibration entails looking at the basket of goods—what must be taught in our schools for Wyoming students to receive a quality education, and then determining what it costs to deliver that basket of goods. It is important that they look at all parts of recalibration, not just the cost of K-12 education. They will also be looking at diversions of existing revenues, options to increase revenue, budget and expenditure reductions, and funding for school capital construction and major maintenance. The committee will be meeting at least seven times during the 2017 interim in different locations around the state. It is vitally important that educators attend these meetings, as the committee will determine education funding for the coming years. They need to hear from the people who actually work with our students and are responsible for their education. The members of the Joint Select Committee on Education Funding have not yet been announced, but when they are, they can be found on the legislative website, http:// legisweb.state.wy.us, under Interim Committee Activities. That is also where you will be able to find the dates, times, locations and agendas of all the meetings. This year they will be having the regular Joint Education Committee interim meetings to discuss six topics which are: education accountability, computer science education, education and military, medically necessary placements, and Professional Teaching Standards Board online credentialing service. If any of these topics are of interest to you, please plan to attend the interim meetings. The Joint Education Committee interim meetings have been scheduled for: June 20-21 - Casper September 6-7 - Casper November 14-15 - Casper You are the experts on education, and it is important that these committees hear from you! So please check the website, find out when and where these committees are meeting, and plan to attend. Together we can be a voice for education in Wyoming. THE CAT-A-VAN Driving Around In My Cool Ride, Heading To Your School-Don't You Dare Hide. Wyoming Education Association Read Across America - March 2 nd I'm Bringing My Friends, Thing 1 and Thing 2 So We Can Read With You & Your Crew! Contact President Vetter to have the Cat visit your school kvetter@wyoea.org ,