HB2593 — A side-by-side comparison is requested between this bill and House Bill 2593 to understand differences in approach.
HB2593 — House Bill 2593 is discussed as a school-district-focused measure that the committee heard, perfected, and passed, and it is repeatedly compared with another bill as an alternative approach to addressing fiscal concerns in school districts. Speakers praise the work done on 2593, note that it did not ultimately progress, and suggest that it may still have value or fit together with the current bill, especially around defining financial distress and supporting school districts.
Skyler Rude — Ranking Member Skyler Rude is repeatedly greeted and addressed during the hearing, then participates in the discussion by asking the witness about training requirements for directors, whether those requirements should be scaled back or targeted toward districts approaching financial distress, and following up with additional questions about current training penetration among school directors.
Skyler Rude — Addressed by the witness as Ranking Member.
Perry Dozier — Senator Perry Dozier introduces himself as the 16th Legislative District senator and begins testimony on the bill.
Carolyn Eslick — Carolyn Eslick praised the bill, asked for a copy of the school district list, and shared a personal recollection about the loss of the Vader school district and her familiarity with Prescott and related community ties. She then thanked the senator, indicated there were no further questions, and moved the committee into public testimony on HB 6247, calling witnesses. In the ensuing testimony, she was addressed as Chair, and the witness thanked her and Senator Dozier, noting appreciation for the collaboration and amendments and acknowledging concerns about school district distress and the need for clarity and support.
Dr. Flip Herndon, Superintendent of ESD 113 — Dr. Flip Herndon, Superintendent of ESD 113, testified in support of the bill and its amendments, thanking Senator Dozier for her collaboration and the committee for considering the changes. He emphasized the role of ESDs in providing regional support.
SB6247 — Senate Bill 6247 is discussed as a measure that could help identify issues in a more structured way while balancing support and oversight. The witness says they are speaking in support of the bill and will address Sections 3 and 4, which relate to training requirements. Support is also noted from organizations signed in on the bill, emphasizing meaningful financial training and accountability. The discussion then turns to the bill’s scope, with concern that it appears to apply to all directors and a question about whether it should be narrowed. Finally, the witness explains that the fiscal note includes funding for WASDA to develop the training.
Logan Noel Endress — Introduces himself as a proud product of public education and begins testimony.
Logan Noel Endress — Logan Noel Endress explained that Board Boot Camp is an optional, multi-hour training offered annually at the association conference and that many new directors attend it, though the current coverage of funding and finance is limited. He also noted that WASDA previously considered but did not adopt a position supporting required governance training, and said he would take the suggestion back to the leadership development team for further consideration.
Logan Newell-Undris — Testifies on behalf of WASDA in support of professional learning for school directors.
Marissa Rathbone — Introduces herself as representing WASA and WOSBO.
Logan — The question is directed to Logan.
Logan — Referenced as having shared similar views.
Marissa — The witness agrees with what Marissa said about the training being really great.
Marissa — Referenced as having just testified about reasons districts may fall below or exceed thresholds.
Steve Bergquist — Steve Bergquist asked whether the proposed training could be incorporated into the orientation for new school board directors rather than required of all directors, and followed up by asking what trainings are already included in new director orientation and whether that would be a more appropriate setting for the requirement.
Gerry Pollet — Representative Gerry Pollet followed up on prior questions about board training, arguing that new board members often lack understanding of school board governance and finance. He suggested that training should include governance responsibilities and asked whether associations and districts would support requiring directors to complete such training within a defined timeframe, similar to other compliance trainings.
Dr. Herndon — Dr. Herndon responded to questions about whether the proposal could be carried out within existing funding. He indicated that some parts could be done through current efforts, but expanding the work would require additional resources. He also confirmed that any added support would still come from the state and noted the bill is intended for districts that are not yet in binding conditions.
Dr. Herndon — Addressed directly as the first respondent on the preferred policy approach.
Flip — Referenced as having shared similar views.
Lillian Ortiz-Self — Representative Ortiz-Self asked whether new school board members’ orientation or training is mandatory. The follow-up remarks clarified that her question was being interpreted as referring to the voluntary board boot camp/orientation rather than required training, keeping the discussion focused on what training is required versus optional.
Misha Terniski — Misha Terniski, speaking on behalf of OSPI, was invited forward after a delay and testified in support of the bill. He said OSPI especially supports the mandatory training component, which the agency has been pushing for, and noted that OSPI would be willing to help further flesh out the bill’s financial distress definition if the committee or sponsor wanted to refine it.
Clyde Shavers — Vice Chair Shavers was repeatedly called on during the hearing to read into the record the names of those signed in not wishing to testify, bring forward the next panel, and was later called again near the close of the hearing.
Heather Trim — Heather Trim of Zero Waste Washington introduced herself and her organization’s waste-reduction mission, then continued her testimony by stressing that devices should be reused as long as possible and recycled at end of life rather than sent to landfill.
SB6222 — During the public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 6222, Heather Trim and Turney both testified in strong support of the bill. After testimony concluded and sign-in counts were read, the chair closed the public hearing on the bill.
Alicia Rule — Referenced as the sponsor of the prior year's Right to Repair bill.
Mr. Turney — The chair indicated the next witness, Mr. Turney, would speak next.
Martin Turney — Testified in support of substitute Senate Bill 6222 on behalf of the Issaquah School District.
SB6222 — The witness asked for support of the bill.
SB5969 — The committee took up Second Substitute Senate Bill 5969, heard staff brief the bill, and received an explanation that the measure would expand the statewide online system for IEPs so it can better integrate a student’s transition plan with the universal high school and beyond plan platform, reducing duplication between the two. The public hearing on the bill then concluded after sign-in counts were read.
Ethan Moreno — Ethan Moreno, nonpartisan staff to the House Education Committee, briefs the committee on Second Substitute Senate Bill 5969 and is then asked to follow up on the fiscal note and the legal characterization of an IEP transition plan, specifically whether it is a document that determines the direct delivery of services to students and whether it directly impacts students.
Megan — Referenced as someone Ethan may confer with before following up on the IDEA question.
Lisa Callan — Representative Callan is part of a continuous exchange about when ESD oversight applies and how ESDs are involved in the budget development process for second-class school districts. The discussion clarifies that the relevant budget-process provisions are specifically aimed at second-class school districts.
Lisa Callan — Representative Lisa Callan asks who should be responsible for providing and developing the required training, suggesting possibilities such as a financial officer, WASBO, or a superintendent. Later remarks refer back to her question and use it as the basis for follow-up discussion about the training requirements.
Lisa Callan — Representative Callan first sought to ask a question of Misha, then raised concerns about oversight in the bill, asking whether OSPI-led oversight or ESD involvement was preferred. She later asked the attorney to provide preferred language or note any differences between the Senate and House versions so the committee could consider them before executive action.
HB2432 — Identified as the companion bill considered earlier in the session.
Michael Keaton — The prime sponsor opens by greeting and addressing Ranking Member Keaton in the opening remarks.
Michael Keaton — Representative Keaton asks how the $750,000 cap was developed.
Michael Keaton — Representative Keaton discussed Board Boot Camp and suggested it could be adjusted to better cover the main responsibilities of school board directors without going into as much depth. In the same broader discussion, he was referenced for emphasizing the importance of financial oversight training, reinforcing the theme of what essential topics board members should be taught.
SB6247 — The committee moves to the next bill, concerning school district financial management, and staff begins briefing it.
Lisa Callan — Referenced as the sponsor of House Bill 2432, the companion legislation considered earlier in session.