Board reviews legislative platform draft; members ask for federal advocacy language

At the Nov. 3 meeting, district staff presented the board’s draft legislative platform and summarized the current state‑level timeline on school finance. Dr. Little and Mr. Smith explained that the legislature’s education funding task force will continue work and that a third party may be contracted to produce a formula simulator to inform future formula changes.

Staff outlined four platform priorities: support for rigorous academic standards with local board authority to manage curriculum; school finance; health, safety and social‑emotional well‑being; and support for public schools and accountability for public dollars. Staff explained a new proposed addition that reaffirms the district’s support for maintaining the current system of selecting state supreme court justices, noting concern that changes could affect constitutional enforcement of education obligations.

Several board members recommended adding or embedding federal‑level language to allow superintendent and advocacy staff to respond quickly to federal developments (for example, funding or Office of Special Education Programming changes). Options discussed included embedding federal positions within the same platform or attaching a short one‑page addendum for rapid use. Staff said they would revise the platform to ensure it can apply across jurisdictions and return for a second (final) reading on Nov. 10.

Next steps: board members were asked to review the draft and submit suggested edits; staff will prepare language that can be used for both state and federal advocacy and bring a revised platform for a final reading at the next meeting.