8/31/2009 3:25:00 AM Chimacum Superintendent Blair ready for trial involving state's funding of basic education
By Melanie Lockhart of The Leader
A six-week trial spearheaded by school superintendents and districts throughout Washington began Monday. A ruling in favor of the Network of Excellence in Washington Schools (NEWS) could lead to a drastic change in how basic education is handled by the state.
Chimacum School District Superintendent Mike Blair was one of the first to join NEWS - a coalition of more than 70 school districts, education associations and organizations that in January 2007 filed a lawsuit against the state in regard to basic education.
NEWS was formed to "pressure the state to fulfill its constitutional duty," said Blair, who serves as NEWS president.
The trial, which has been postponed twice already, is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 31 in King County Superior Court before presiding Judge John Erlick. Blair said he and others in NEWS are more than ready for the trial to finally take place.
"Everything is pretty well complete now," Blair said of case preparations. "We're pretty much down to bringing it before the judge and presenting our case."
The suit centers around two things: defining basic education and determining whether the state has provided ample funding in compliance with that definition.
NEWS believes that the definition already exists in four learning goals developed by Washington after The Basic Education Act of 1993 was signed into place, but that it needs a court ruling, Blair said.
"We want the court to rule that the definition of basic education has in fact been defined," Blair said.
As president of NEWS and as superintendent of one of 12 leading districts, Blair will testify during the trial. Though he'd love to be present throughout the entire trial, he has duties to Chimacum schools and will only travel to King County when he is needed on the stand, Blair said.
Blair expects the judge to make a ruling within three months, but also anticipates a potentially lengthy appeals process.
Reader Comments
Posted: Monday, August 31, 2009
Article comment by:
Allen Frank
Where does Superintendent Blair propose the money come from? It seems to me we run the risk of all Athletic, music and other discretionary programs (like Mr. Welch's Video Program) will have to be eliminated as non-essential to focus 100% on the 4 essentials and nothing else. Be careful what you wish for
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