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Board briefed on 2026 legislative priorities as lobbyist warns of at least $1 billion state deficit
Summary
District lobbyist Clifford (first referenced in the transcript as Cliff Tradesman) told the board the state is facing at least a $1,000,000,000 deficit and urged protecting K–12 funding; staff reviewed the district’s 2026 legislative agenda and the board discussed levy policy, LEA, and advocacy rules under Board Policy 12.25.
The Seattle School District No. 1 received an update on the 2026 legislative session and the district’s priorities after a progress-monitoring presentation.
Ms. Swarth, the district’s director of board relations, summarized the board-adopted legislative agenda (adopted November 2025) with three primary priorities: closing funding gaps in basic education (special education, transportation, materials/supplies/operating costs), supporting student learning and well-being while resisting unfunded mandates, and improving operations (capital investments and addressing sales tax on retail services affecting district costs).
District…
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