OSPI STATEMENT: Dorn on His Future
Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 10/22/2015 09:15 AM PDTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Dorn Statement on His Future
OLYMPIA — October 22, 2015 — After long, careful consideration, I have decided not to run for reelection for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2016. This decision doesn’t mean, though, that I am giving up the fight for our students and for a fully funded school system that is consistent with the paramount duty of our state constitution.
I have made no secret of my extreme frustration. Our constitution requires a uniform, amply funded school system. But such a system doesn’t exist today, and I see little, if any, progress toward creating one. The Governor has never offered a plan for reforming levies and reaching full state funding. Some promising proposals have been introduced in the Legislature, but none have made it even to a committee vote. And the state Supreme Court has yet to impose sanctions meaningful enough to compel the Governor and Legislature to act.
Our students need and deserve vigorous action from adults. But neither the Governor, the Legislature nor the Court have provided that leadership.
Regarding my future, I am keeping my options open.
I promise that, no matter what, I will be watching state officials very carefully. Meaningful progress must be made to reform our inadequate, inequitable and unconstitutional school funding system.
As an educator and elected official, I have spent my career fighting for our students. I am not about to stop now.
Contact
Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Manager
360-725-6015
Kristen Jaudon
OSPI Communications Specialist
360-725-6032
About OSPI
The Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is the primary agency charged with overseeing K–12 education in Washington state. Led by State Superintendent Randy Dorn, OSPI works with the state's 295 school districts and nine educational service districts to administer basic education programs and implement education reform on behalf of more than one million public school students.
OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be directed to the Equity and Civil Rights Director at 360-725-6162 or P.O. Box 47200, Olympia, WA 98504-7200.