Special education, behavioral health and technology were a few of the crucial items that local legislators placed on the table at the recent Mercer Island School District (MISD) board of directors linkage session.
Island residents and 41st legislative district Sen. Lisa Wellman and Rep. Tana Senn shared what they’re focusing on these days, and they were joined by Max Okamoto, the representative for 9th congressional district Rep. Adam Smith of Bellevue. The pair of districts cover Mercer Island and copious adjacent cities.
During the Jan. 4 meeting within the confines of the MISD Administration Building — and four days prior to the commencement of the legislative session — the trio was asked what they hope to achieve in the upcoming months in Olympia.
Senn is one of 25 sponsors of a bill that requires schools to purchase zero-emission school buses only, with a gradual change from diesel to electric vehicles beginning in 2027. Climate Commitment Act funding would help cover the costs of electric buses for the school districts.
“I’m excited about that piece of legislation for the health of kids, for the environment, for the staff,” Senn, the prime sponsor, said about her priority bill.
Supporting all students in the mental health realm is also critical for Senn, who will also continue focusing on special education issues like having school districts potentially roll out their Individualized Education Program over the summer.
With a teaching background and logging 40 years in the technology field, Wellman has plans to hold a tech conference in Bellevue this August for approximately 50 teachers to delve into the benefits of utilizing AI and more.
“I really do want them to be able to understand all that’s happening in technology, (what’s) impacting the classroom and impacting children’s studies,” she said.
Two bills that are important for Wellman focus on requiring students to study computer science in order to graduate, and securing funding for student transportation in an inclusive bill aimed at “at-risk” students, including those in special education, foster youth and homeless youth, according to the Washington State Democrats website.
When discussing Rep. Smith’s priorities, Okamoto noted that the legislator has sponsored an abundance of bills focused on behavioral health that have increased funding for school counselors. Smith also joins others in a push to fully fund special education, provide additional funding for electric school buses and create funding for technical and community colleges to provide free tuition for low-income students in the career and technical education realms.
To view the full linkage session, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiIqDSkW7sY
