Rep. Probst hosts town hall Sat., June 2

Rep. Probst

Rep. Tim Probst of Vancouver looks forward to meeting constituents from his 17^th Legislative District at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 2, in a town hall meeting in the district. Rep. Probst will discuss the issues that matter most to the community and will be happy to answer questions about state government and his work in the Legislature. The meeting will take place at the C-Tran Transit Center, 3510 SE 164^th Ave., Vancouver.

To read this story in Spanish, please click here.

Probst hosts tele-town hall

Rep. Tim Probst from the 17^th Legislative District in Vancouver will host a telephone town hall 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25. He looks forward to a live conversation with his constituents about the issues that matter most to the district and the state.

Under the telephone town hall format, thousands of constituents will receive automatically generated telephone calls to their homes in the 17^th Legislative District just before 6 p.m. Wednesday. The constituents may ask questions for Rep. Probst to answer by pressing *3 on their phones during the call, and they may listen to the live conversation to hear questions from others and answers.

 Constituents who do not receive a phone call may participate in the meeting simply by calling 1-877-229-8493 and entering the ID code (PIN) number 18646 when prompted.

To read this post in Spanish, click here.

Good graduation news for Washington

The graduation rate in our state is on the rise, according to a Johns Hopkins University study. Back in 2002, Washington’s on-time graduation rate stood at 72.2 percent. By 2011, that number had risen to 75 percent. Also worth mentioning: the number of schools graduating less than 60 percent of students decreased by 17 percent.

Study after study shows us that an educated populous is vital to economic growth and stabilization, and the financial ramifications of dropping out are felt almost immediately. The Alliance for Excellent Education reports that in 2005 the average annual income for a high school graduate was $26,933. The annual income for a high school dropout was at an average of $17,299. It doesn’t take an expert to tell you that the extra 9,000 bucks a year adds up pretty quickly.

Photo credit: Electron

In Olympia we’ve been working hard to raise graduation rates. Just last year the legislature approved the Pay for Actual Student Success (PASS) Act. The bill promotes the use of existing, proven dropout prevention strategies and stipulates that a portion of the payment is reserved until successful reduction of the dropout rate has been measurably achieved. The PASS Act marked the first time a pay-for-outcomes element has been used in Washington’s high schools.  

Upon the bill’s passage, prime-sponsor Rep. Tim Probst said that “Left unchecked the state budget will almost certainly cause our high school dropout rate to go up. That’s unacceptable to me. I think it’s a state fiscal imperative, a moral imperative and an economic imperative to get our graduation rates up.”

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Rep. Probst helps Clark County get greener

Thanks to Rep. Tim Probst of Vancouver, the Clark County Treasurer’s Office is going greener – and saving money at the same time.

Probst sponsored a bill approved by the Legislature in 2010 that allows property owners to view and pay their property tax bills online, at no charge. That saves paper and postage both for the county and the taxpayer.   

Clark is Probst’s home county, but any county may use the technology. To read more about the Clark County program, click here. 

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Rep. Probst honored twice for boosting student success

For his legislative accomplishments in lowering dropout rates and broadening future economic opportunity for students, Rep. Tim Probst of Vancouver received awards last week from two organizations long-experienced in advocating for education.

The national Jobs for America’s Graduates dropout-prevention organization recognized Probst’s support for its Washington state chapter and his successful sponsorship in 2011 of the Pay for Actual Student Success (PASS) bill, which funnels money to high schools with proven records of reducing dropout rates.

The Washington Student Association, which represents undergraduate and graduate students at public colleges and universities in the state, gave Probst its “legislator of the year” award for “his focus on securing our state’s prosperity through innovative solutions.” The association cited his success in 2011 in creating the Washington Opportunity Scholarship program, which established a public-private partnership to finance scholarships for students working toward bachelor’s degrees in high-demand fields.

To read this story in Spanish, click here.

Opportunity Internships means jobs

Opportunity Internship recipient Reese Holland (center)

How can we match up businesses needing skilled workers with students who want those skills – and those jobs?

Opportunity Internships is one solution that's working.  Meet Reese Holland, a student in Rep. Tim Probst’s community.

Reese is pursuing a career in engineering, and instead of simply taking math and science classes in high school, he got hands-on training and experience at the local Frito Lay plant. Interns like Reese check the settings of dozens of machines and programs at the plant, which is constantly trying to do things more efficiently. They track waste in the tenth of a percentage range.

Opportunity Internships are a creative way to match students up with good careers and to boost our state’s economy. Many skilled jobs get filled by people from out of state because our high schools and colleges don’t produce enough graduates in those fields.

So it makes sense to emphasize STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in our high schools and colleges, because our students should be getting those skills – and those good jobs.

The idea behind Opportunity Internships is simple: match up interested students with the right businesses and make sure they get the skills -- and on-the-job experience -- they need. The business gets a highly skilled employee that they already know is a good worker. The student gets a career with a future. And our state economy gets a boost.  Great idea, huh? 

As students like Reese can tell you, the idea is working. Read more here.

A smart move for Washington students

Landing the jobs of tomorrow won’t be an easy task, and the need for education and training beyond high school is increasingly critical.

How can we create and keep the high-tech, cutting-edge jobs of the future?

Let’s start by making sure our own kids get the education and skills needed to claim those jobs. Moving in that direction, Governor Gregoire signed a package of higher education bills into law today, paving the way for comprehensive and creative change for higher education in Washington state.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle is the prime sponsor of House Bill 1795, which was signed today and will allow public four-year institutions to set tuition rates to meet local demand, while also increasing financial aid for low and middle-income students.

“Our challenge as a state is to find a thoughtful balance between ongoing state budget deficits and a significant need for access, affordability and quality in our state colleges and universities,” Carlyle said. “This legislation embraces the differences within our public college system and boosts financial aid that will bring relief for real students needing real relief.”

Gregoire also signed Rep. Tim Probst’s House Bill 2088 to help students earn degrees in high-employer demand fields. With the creation of the Opportunity Expansion Program, the state will increase the number of students obtaining high-demand, high-wage jobs at state four-year colleges and the Opportunity Scholarship Program will provide scholarships to low and middle-income students who earn degrees in high-demand careers and other educational programs. At today’s bill signing ceremony, the Boeing and Microsoft companies announced they will each be putting $25 million into the Opportunity Scholarship Program.

“Washington is the first state in the nation to create a scholarship program like this,” Probst said. “We hope that other companies will follow Microsoft and Boeing’s incredible example, so we can offer 10,000 scholarships or more before Christmas of this year.”

Also signed today, held at Seattle’s Cleveland High School, were Senate Bill 5749, making minor changes to the actuarially-sound Guaranteed Education Tuition program, and Senate Bill 5182, eliminating the Higher Education Coordinating Board and transferring their functions.

“In order to compete in tomorrow’s economy, Washington simply must become better educated and better skilled,” said Rep. Larry Seaquist, chair of the House Higher Education Committee. “With the bipartisan leadership and significant community involvement in this great set of higher education legislation, we’ve set the foundation for success in our colleges and universities.”

To read the full press release, please click here. Here’s a link to the Governor’s release from today as well.

Investing in dropout prevention

Studies show taxpayers save $10,500 per year, every year, for each student who stays in school and graduates rather than dropping out.

Now Washington has a new law that will use proven strategies to reduce the dropout rate and help more students graduate from high school.

The Governor's signature on House Bill 1599 means that for the first time, there will be a pay-for-performance system to incentivize schools to address dropout prevention.

"After years of high school dropout rates remaining fairly unchanged, I truly believe this bill will mark the beginning of a new era for high school graduation rates all across Washington state," said Rep. Tim Probst, who prime-sponsored the bill.

You can read more about the Pay for Actual Student Success (PASS) Act here and here.

To read this blog post in Spanish, go here.

Jobs and the future of Washington state

How can we create jobs?

An op-ed by Rep. Tim Probst in Sunday’s Columbian says that we can’t be lured into thinking the way to create jobs is to try to win a race to the bottom, for the lowest-skilled, lowest-wage jobs. America – and Washington state – are prosperous because we’ve been winning a race to the top, for the best jobs in the world.

(By the way, Washington consistently ranks as one of the best states for business.)

Tele-town hall meetings pwn Monday night reruns

Thousands of folks in Washington's Vancouver will receive a call tomorrow night from Rep. Tim Probst inviting them to participate in a telephone town hall.

Folks who don’t have a landline won’t receive the call so if you're from the 17th district and want to dial-in, call toll-free 877-229-8493 and enter PIN 15547 when prompted. The call will start at 6 p.m.

(Pwn is a great word, by the way. No vowels. One syllable. We like it.)

Moeller hosting forum to discuss Gov proposals about Vancouver's school for blind and deaf

“Hey, not so fast there, Governor.”

That’s the message southwestern Washington lawmakers are broadcasting about a plan to change who has the ultimate say-so at the Schools for the Blind and the Deaf in Vancouver.

State Rep. Jim Moeller from Vancouver testified in a Senate committee hearing yesterday morning against the proposal in Senate Bill 6491. He said later that the ideas in the bill have received “neither the appropriate level of fiscal scrutiny nor the appropriate level of public involvement.”

Moeller has arranged a public forum to discuss the legislation this Saturday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m. The forum will be held in hearing room A on the first floor of the John L. O’Brien Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. Citizens can call or e-mail Moeller for driving directions. His Olympia phone number is 360-786-7872, his local Clark County phone number is 693-0804, and his e-mail address is moeller.jim@leg.wa.gov.

State Rep. Jim Jacks, another Vancouver and 49th Legislative District Democrat, as well as fellow Vancouver Democratic state Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst, who both represent the 17th Legislative District, share Moeller’s concerns about the proposal. The legislation would transfer governance of the Washington State School for the Blind and the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The legislation was requested by the governor. It directs that the state Superintendent of Public Instruction would make all appointments that are now made by the governor for the two facilities. Currently, the State School for the Blind is under the direction of the school’s superintendent, who works with a board of trustees. The governor appoints the school’s superintendent and the trustees. The governor also appoints the director of the Washington State Center for Childhood Deafness and Hearing Loss, as well as the center’s board of trustees.

Moeller points out that “I simply haven’t heard any concrete reasoning, either financial or otherwise, for making such a dramatic change in the way these two long-standing, very successful institutions are governed. There is no specific information about how such a reorganization would save money or improve services provided to these unique populations. It seems to me that proponents of this idea haven’t done enough to involve the most obvious stakeholders. Students, parents and advocates for children who attend these facilities must certainly be involved in the process.

“I understand that our state is facing a huge budget and revenue crisis,” Moeller added. “I know that we have to make some very big changes in the way we do things. But let’s not make changes just for the sake of making changes – especially not if the proposed changes are not even going to save money, anyway, and certainly not if the proposed changes are going to foul up a perfectly sound system of governance at these two schools.”

All interested parties are certainly invited and encouraged to attend the forum. Staff from the governor’s office will be there, and interpreters and Braille copies of the legislation will be provided.

Want to give your legislators a piece of your mind?

You read the news. You know the state is facing enormous challenges. You have opinions and you want to share them with people who can use them, right? Many of our legislators are hosting meetings in the next week and they'd love to hear from you.

Tonight
Town Hall at 6:30 with the 48th LD delegation (Senator Rodney Tom and Reps. Ross Hunter and Deb Eddy) at Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Avenue)

Town Hall at 6:30 with Rep. Tim Probst of the 17th LD at the Creekside Estates Clubhouse (5101 NE 121st Ave, Vancouver)

Tele-town hall at 6 with Rep. Marko Liias from the 21st LD


Saturday
Town Hall at 10 a.m. with the 49th LD delegation (Senator Craig Pridemore and Reps. Jim Moeller and Jim Jacks) at the Public Service Center, 6th floor commissioners hearing room (1300 Franklin Street, Vancouver)

Coffee hour at 10 a.m. with Rep. Bob Hasegawa from the 11th LD at Renton Village Starbucks (601 S. Grady Way, Renton)

Town Hall at 11 a.m. with Rep. Deb Wallace from the 17th LD at Fisher's Landing Transit Center (3510 SE 164th Ave, Vancouver)

Town Hall at 10 a.m. with Rep. Steve Conway from the 29th LD at Bates Community College South Campus (2201 S 178th St., Tacoma)


Tuesday, January 12
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Pat Sullivan from the 47th LD


Thursday, January 14
Tele-town hall at 6:30 with Rep. Ruth Kagi from the 32nd LD

Photos from Vancouver area education forum

This week, state Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst hosted a two-part forum to talk about the basic education funding bill passed last session and gather feedback about the work taking place now to implement the many changes outlined in the bill.

Wallace and Probst invited staff from the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the State Board of Education, and the Professional Educator Standards Board to talk about that work.

On Tuesday evening, more than a dozen community members gathered for a broad discussion about the bill, and on Wednesday evening, more than 50 teachers and educators participated in a discussion focused more on the changes that will affect teacher certification and accountability.

The discussions were lively and participants shared compelling personal stories that shed light on how these changes may, or may not, have a positive effect on student learning.

K-12 funding reforms moving along - Wallace and Probst want feedback

Today and tomorrow the Quality Education Council is meeting to discuss details of where we're at with implementation of the basic ed funding bill passed last session.

Of particular interest, the QEC is looking at Superintendent Randy Dorn's proposal for a new pupil transportation funding system. Currently, the formulas used to dole out transportation money to school districts only account for about two-thirds of the costs resulting in districts having to pony up hundreds of millions of dollars to make up the difference.

The QEC will also look at Dorn's proposed funding values for the "prototype school" model that the Legislature will use to fund basic education. The "prototype school" model is a way of clearly and easily calculating how many teachers, administrators and support staff it takes for, say, a high school with 600 students. The model also outlines what class size the state is funding, how much is going for things such as technology, utilities, textbooks and other costs associated with operating a safe, healthy school.

Dorn estimates that his proposal will require just over $3 billion of additional funding per year.

The QEC will ultimately send their recommendations to the Legislature in the upcoming 2010 session. That's why many legislators are actively seeking feedback about the proposals.

In fact, Vancouver-area residents are encouraged to attend a public meeting tonight and tomorrow night hosted by Reps. Deb Wallace and Tim Probst. The meetings begin at 6:30 and are at York Elementary School. Kathie Durbin at The Columbian has a great overview of what kind of discussion to expect.

National Guard a late add to benefits bill

State Rep. Tim Probst offered an amendment this morning to make returning National Guard members eligible for unemployment training benefits. The bill previously applied only to honorably discharged military service members.

“This amendment will help about 650 National Guard members who will soon be returning from Iraq, and coming home to face unemployment in a tough economy," Probst said. "While they wait for their next tour of duty overseas, we need to support them and get them the training they need to find good jobs.”

You can read more about the amendment here:
Probst amendment to economic stimulus bill opens benefits to National Guard

Tim Probst talks about what 'service' means to him

Newly-elected Rep. Tim Probst spent some time recently talking about why service matters, here in the Legislature and at home:

(Click image to link to video)