...on Supporting Public Schools by starting a workgroup

From the BC Dems Platform & Resolutions committee. The following is to presented at the January 20, 2005, BCDCC Meeting. The resolution is for public school support

Please direct comments to Dave Conklin, Committee Chair

Proposed Resolution on Supporting Public Schools

Whereas a well-educated electorate is indispensable to a successful democracy, and

whereas free K-12 public schools are the foundation of the education system in our country, and

whereas Benton County's public schools have been in times past a source of pride and an attraction to newcomers, and

whereas the 509J school district is currently embroiled in controversy, has larger class sizes and a more limited curriculum than in earlier times,

then be it resolved that:

  1. Benton County Democrats will form a Public School Support action committee
  2. The action committee will consider how BCDems can work most effectively to return Benton County's schools to a state of excellence and harmony which engenders community pride, and will make recommendations to the BCDCC at or before its meeting on May 19th, 2005.
  3. Recognizing that the problems in our local schools are partly a result of conditions created at the state and national levels of government, the action committee will consider ideas which may require action at the state or national level.
  4. The action committee will solicit and consider ideas from students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, and other citizens.
  5. The action committee will consider the following suggestions which have already been made:
    • BCDems could help educate the public about the financial situation of our school systems
    • BCDems could help pass a new school revenue measure of some kind
    • BCDems could seek to pass a statewide initiative to cap class sizes, as has been done in California and Florida
    • BCDems could work to modify the problematic provisions of Measure 5, the property tax limitation passed in 1990
    • BCDems could work for legislation or an initiative to establish a 1% vehicle property tax, to be used for public education
  6. Recognizing that support for free public education is a value shared by most citizens of all political persuasions in our country, the action committee will frame its recommendations such that resulting projects may draw in not only Democrats, but also others who agree that working to make our schools better is worthwhile.

prepared by Mark Armour and Dave Conklin

Committees: 
Platform & Resolutions