Council President Richard Conlin
Councilmember Tim Burgess
COUNCIL ADOPTS EDUCATION AMENDMENT TO CITY’S LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Amendment urges State to continue full funding for K-12 Education
SEATTLE – The City Council today emphatically stated its priority for quality education by amending the City's 2009 Legislative Agenda to make maintaining full funding for K-12 education a priority for the State Legislative session.
The amendment notes that while the City of Seattle is not responsible for operating, managing or funding public education, the City Council regards successful public schools and a quality education as key to the social and economic vitality of our city and state, and that "… [t]he State should continue to provide for the full funding of K-12 education, which is the paramount duty of the State mandated by the state constitution."
Council President Richard Conlin said, "The health and vitality of our communities depends on the State supporting and providing a strong education system. Now more than ever, we must assure the future of our children. It's unusual for any government to make advocating funding for a different government a priority, but this issue is too critical to our city. We can't sit this one out."
Tim Burgess, Chair of the City Councils Public Safety, Human Services and Education Committee, said, "High quality public schools are essential for our city's future. Excellent schools produce excellent citizens. We need to continue implementing programs that both produce leaders of tomorrow and close the achievement gap. We urge the State to maintain its full commitment and obligation to education, and not back away from this imperative."
The Legislative Agenda is designed to inform the State of the City's priorities for legislative action, and to provide guidance for the City's legislative liaisons in their work.
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