West Seattleites in Olympia for ‘Focus Day’ school-funding support

(Photo by Melissa Edwards)
Presidents Day was no holiday for some local families who traveled to Olympia to advocate for education funding – amid a continuing budget crunch. Schmitz Park Elementary PTA President Fiona Preedy shared a report:

West Seattleites were well represented at the PTA Focus Day held in Olympia on Presidents Day, with Gatewood, Schmitz Park, and Lafayette parents rallying to ask legislators to better fund K-12 education.

Thanks to all the families that gathered, chanted, and made the rounds of legislators. Gatewood families – Erika Schreder and Greg Peters with Hannelore and Sarah, and Grace Bennett with her son Henry and his friend Elias; Schmitz Park families – Emily Carlson with Oliver, Emily, and Oscar, Melissa Edwards with her son Keaton, Fiona Preedy with Rowan and Aidan; Lafayette’s Lisa Schubert and her daughter Mai Li.

We had a great time, learned a lot about how government works, and we hope that we had an impact on how Olympia views funding our children’s education.

If you’d like to know more – here’s the Washington State PTA page about budget advocacy. If you want to support the cause, here’s what Schmitz Park PTA legislative chair Naheed Nizam advises:

Contact Sen. Sharon Nelson, Rep. Eileen Cody and Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon and ask them not to impose any further cuts on K-12 funding. In addition … remind our legislators that “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex” – Washington State Constitution, Article 9, Section 1.

Links to all three legislators’ pages – with their contact info – can be found here.

WestSeattleParent February 23, 2011 (9:19 am)

I’m surprised to read that only Gatewood, Schmitz Park and Lafayette families were in attendance. How was the West Seattle presence organized? I know that families from other WS elementary schools would have gladly attended.

Fiona @ SPElem February 23, 2011 (10:09 am)

WestSeattleParent – the way that we got together was through the Seattle Council PTSA and we were fortunate that the Schmitz Park legislative chair, Naheed Nizam, works on the Seattle Council. There was a lot of advertising for Focus Day to the PTA leadership at each school. We were happy to go and had a great time, but it was tough to make the decision to give up a day of break, so I understand when not every school participated. My family looks forward to going again next year and joining up with other WS schools!

Grace Bennett February 23, 2011 (12:39 pm)

WestSeattleParent- This year since Focus Day fell on Presidents Day during Mid Winter Break there is some talk schools from Region 6 will search out another day in March to head down to Olympia. If you’re interested make sure your PTA knows and get them to contact Seattle Council PTSA. If your school doesn’t have a PTA contact Schmitz Park’s PTA or Gatewood’s PTA directly. If there’s enough interest a group will probably head on down. Let’s keep having our voices heard! Oh correction on Henry’s friend’s name: its Silas Turtle-Brown.

redblack February 23, 2011 (8:41 pm)

you guys should use the forums here on WSB to alert each other to events like this. WSB is a great resource, and i think it has, like, two degrees of separation in our community. (i.e. everyone knows someone who reads the blog.)