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Thousands flock to state Capitol, join demonstration

Robin Hindery, The Associated Press | April 9, 2011 | The Olympian

Thousands of union members from all over Washington poured onto the grounds of the state Capitol on Friday, calling on lawmakers to "put people first" by ending corporate tax breaks and painful cuts to public programs.

The protest was by far the largest of four days of boisterous demonstrations in Olympia over spending cuts legislators are considering in order to help close a looming $5 billion budget deficit for the next two-year cycle.

Read more: http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/09/1610018/thousands-flock-to-capitol-join.html

Tax breaks need scrutiny | Spokesman-Review | 2/19/11

Rep. Andy Billig, guest columnist

As a freshman legislator, I often feel like a rookie relief pitcher, knowing the home team is counting on me to make the right decisions. One of those decisions is my sponsorship of legislation that will create a closer examination of tax exemptions, institute sunset dates so continuing tax preferences are required to be reauthorized at regular intervals and eliminate tax exemptions that can’t be justified. These measures will protect funding for our kids and communities, and bring more accountability and transparency to the tax exemption system. [more]


The Seattle Times | Dec. 15, 2010 | Give Community Colleges More Flexibility to Help Students, Economic Recovery

Guest editorial by Amy Kinsel

Amy J. Kinsel is a U.S. history instructor at Shoreline, chair of the college's Strategic Planning and Budget Committee and first vice president of the Shoreline Community College Federation of Teachers (local 1950).

THIRTEEN of Shoreline Community College's 129 full-time instructors have received layoff notices, along with staff and administrators, and we have been warned that more cuts are coming. 

Recently named Washington's top community college by StateUniversity.com, Shoreline is not alone. Colleges across the state expect to absorb a projected 18 percent cut in the next biennium. [read full article].

'Superman' documentary doesn't tell full story about education challenges

Seattle Times | Oct. 7, 2010 | Guest columnist
The new documentary "Waiting for Superman" doesn't tell the whole story about the challenges facing public schools, writes guest columnist Sandra Schroeder. She highlights some of those challenges that need to be considered for widespread success in schools. Read full article.

 

The News Tribune | 6/25/10 | Ruling Upholds Layoffs at Bates Technical College

Bates Technical College followed the law this year when it made plans to layoff five faculty members, a state administrative law judge has concluded.

But the union, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), says the law is flawed. [read full article]

Layoffs coming at Bates Technical College | The News Tribune Blog | 4/20/10

Posted by Kris Sherman on April 20, 2010 at 11:17 am

Some 25 staff members at Bates Technical College are to be laid off because of state budget cuts, a spokeswoman said this morning.

The Tacoma-based trade school issued 45 reduction-in-force notices to faculty members and support employees on Monday, spokeswoman Edie Jeffers said in a prepared statement.

Read more: http://blog.thenewstribune.com/street/2010/04/20/layoffs-coming-at-bates-technical-college/#ixzz0lgT3l5yb

 

Olympia Newswire | 1/27/10 | Two-Year Colleges Can't Afford to Absorb More Cuts

By Amy Kinsel, Professor of History, Shoreline Community College

The cruel irony of last year’s legislative session is that Washington State deeply cut funding to higher education just as enrollment skyrocketed.  As unemployment grew last year, many Washingtonians decided to enter or return to college, only to find that they were being asked to pay more for less. (read full article)

The Stand

 

The Stand is a new website from the Washington State Labor Council which includes legislative, local, and national news as well as opinions and other information of interest to working families in Washington.

Check out The Stand!

Inside Higher Ed | May 23, 2008 | 21 Years as an Adjunct and Out

Inside Higher Ed's Quick Takes

Margaret West has taught part-time for 21 years at Edmonds Community College, in Washington State, gaining good reviews and annual contract renewals. The FACE blog -- part of the Faculty and College Excellence Campaign to get more tenure-track faculty slots and improve the treatment of adjuncts - reported that West was told recently that her services would no longer be needed and that a dean, asked why, told her "because I can." (read more)

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