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STUDIES
 Collective Bargaining in Public Schools:
Turning the Focus to Students May 2000 Karen Helland, J.D. Corrie White The majority of education funds in the average school district in Washington state is spent to meet the demands of collectively bargained contracts. Large districts negotiate a dozen or more contracts with employee groups. What is in these contracts and do they facilitate or frustrate the ability to offer each student in our public school system the best possible educational opportunity? Do these contracts enhance or erode the professional satisfaction of teachers? This study attempts to answer those questions. Contents
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1 Part Honesty; 2 Parts Arrogance At a March 23, 2005, House Appropriations hearing on a bill to gut the voter-approved I-601 spending limit, Rep. Jim McIntire (D) asked a supporter of I-601’s two-third supermajority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes the following question: "Can you name a time when we [legislators] have actually not just set it [supermajority requirement] aside by majority vote? I mean, this is in many respects a procedural motion that has no bearing. It’s a statutory constraint that cannot constrain any legislature that chooses as a majority to set it aside . . . have we ever used a supermajority [to raise taxes]?" - Rep. Jim McIntire (D - 46) Despite the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's constitution is clear: "All political power is inherent in the people..." |
