Governor’s proclamation recognizes state school boards

BRIDGEPORT -- For those rare few citizens who forgot to drop a line, make a call, or pay a visit to their local school board members last month - School Board Recognition Month -- do not despair because Gov. Inslee has your back. The Governor issued a proclamation designating January 2024 as School Board Recognition Month in Washington.

At the regular monthly meeting of the Bridgeport school board on Monday, Jan. 29, Superintendent Scott Sattler directed board members’ attention to the certificates in front of them as he recited the proclamation language:

WHEREAS, the mission of Washington's public school system is to assure that all students achieve at high levels and possess the knowledge and skills to be responsible members of a democratic society who enjoy productive and satisfying lives; and 

WHEREAS, Washington's 295 locally elected school boards and nine elected educational service district boards are the core of the public education governance system in our state; and 

WHEREAS, the districts and regions they lead serve more than one million students, have a combined annual budget of over $15 billion, and employ approximately 120,000 people; and 

WHEREAS, school directors play a crucial role in promoting student learning and achievement by creating a vision, establishing policies and budgets, and setting clear standards of accountability for all involved; and 

WHEREAS, school directors are directly accountable to the residents in their districts and regions, serving as a vital link between members of the community and their schools; and 

WHEREAS, school directors and educational service districts provide a passionate voice of advocacy for public schools and the welfare of school children; and 

WHEREAS, it is appropriate to recognize school directors as outstanding volunteers and champions for public education; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jay Inslee, Governor of the state of Washington, do hereby proclaim January 2024 as School Board Recognition Month in Washington, and I encourage all people in our state to join me in this special observance.

Sattler advised student representative Rosalinda Hernandez that she will also receive a certificate to present to the student body.

School Board Recognition Month has been observed for the past 29 years since it was first inaugurated in Washington in 1995.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media