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2/26/2013: WMEA learned that both House Bill 1248 and Senate Bill 5451 missed their deadlines to get passed out of their committees. That means both bills are null. WMEA believes it was the efforts of those who opposed the bills that contributed to the bills failing to move forward.
2/25/2013: Bruce Caldwell, Jo Caldwell, Neal Porter, Barbara Porter and Mario Brown went to Olympia to testify in the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. Bruce Caldwell and Neal and Barbara Porter spoke before the committee. While in the Olympia, the WMEA delegation met with several members of both the House and the Senate to talk about music education. WMEA, WEA and the Washington Arts Alliance stood in opposition to House Bill 1248 and Senate Bill 5451.
1/29/2013: Bruce Caldwell and Mario Brown testified before the House Education Committee in Olympia. WMEA testified in opposition to House Bill 1248. The well-meaning bill would authorize the legislature to provide funding to elementary schools to purchase music programs that could be used as curriculum even if the teacher has no experience or training in music. WMEA's mission is to ensure that every student has access to a comprehensive, sequential music education taught by a qualified instructor. WMEA appreciates and respects supplemental educational programs and technology, but we would like to see those programs used by qualified music instructors at all grade levels.
1/9/2013: On January 7, Mariko Lane and Ted Christensen hosted an advocacy training session that was attended by 82 participants!
1/8/2013: WMEA spent the morning with WEA Chief Lobbyist, Lucinda Young. We discussed working together to make sure that music education is included as part of any "basic education" format. WMEA needs its members to work with us as we advocate. If you would like to participate, please email mario@wmea.org and provide us with your private (non-work) email account. There are many opportunities to participate! We look forward to hearing from you.
1/8/2013 BREAKING NEWS: Attention music teachers in the 48 Legislative District (the Bellevue area). TODAY, Tuesday January 8th Senator Rodney Tom, Representative-Elect Cyrus Habib and Ross Hunter will host Their first town hall of the 2013 legislative session. WMEA would love to see some of our teachers show up and make our presence known at this town hall. This year Washington state has another substantive budget shortfall, a large education funding obligation because of the McCleary decision. If you can make it to the meeting and get to speak, try and take pictures that WMEA can post to our Facebook page.
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