February is Black History Month, a federally recognized, month-long observance to honor the achievements, rich culture, and history of African Americans. It’s a time to reflect on the important contributions and struggles of African Americans throughout the history of our country. Below are just a few resources you may find helpful.

The 2026 Washington State legislative session is moving quickly. As a reminder, this is a 60-day short session that began January 12 and is scheduled to adjourn on March 12.

Monday, February 9th marked the fiscal committee cutoff, the deadline for bills with a financial impact to pass out of fiscal committees in order to remain under consideration this session Many bills did not survive this cutoff.

Sunday, February 22nd budget writers released their budget proposals. The Senate operating budget proposes more than $144 million in cuts to K-12, while the House proposes over $87 million.

The proposed 2026 capital budgets will be released at noon February 23rd by the House capital budget writers, and at 3 PM by the Senate capital budget writers. The bills will be heard in the House Capital Budget at 8 AM on Tuesday, February 24th and by the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4 PM. Votes will take place on the 26th in the House fiscal committee at 8 AM and in the Senate fiscal committee at 4 PM.

The state’s revenue forecast was released last Monday, February 16th. A preliminary report shows tax collections are approximately $340 million higher than forecast in November. While this provides a small bright spot, the state is still facing a projected $2.3 billion shortfall in the current budget.

The shortfall is attributed to slower-than-expected tax growth, inflationary pressures, increased demand for state services, and impacts from federal policy changes under H.R. 1.

Many education bills are still under consideration. I encourage everyone to review them carefully and make their voices heard through advocacy.

Unfortunately, several K-12 funding priorities did not survive the fiscal cutoff. Bills that would have increased funding for:

While MSOC and transportation funding could still be addressed in the supplemental operating budget, there is currently limited indication that significant new K-12 investments will be prioritized this session.

There are also discussions in Olympia about using Governor Bob Ferguson’s December proposed budget as a starting point with potential reductions in K-12 spending or budget shifts that move obligations into future fiscal years.

During floor debate last Friday on E2SHB 2034 (related to transferring excess pension funds to the Climate Commitment Act), Representative Michael Keaton (R-Puyallup) proposed redirecting $569 million in excess pension funds instead to the Education Legacy Trust Account to increase MSOC funding. The amendment was not adopted, but the debate highlights ongoing concern about the lack of meaningful K-12 funding investments this session.

For districts like Pullman, levy authority and LEA remain critical tools that allow us to maintain programs and services that are not fully funded by the state’s basic education allocation. We will continue monitoring any budget adjustments that may affect local levy capacity or LEA support.

Legislation passed in 2025 (SB 5814) extended sales and use taxes to certain services, creating potential cost increases for school districts.

There has been positive movement to address this:

A new bill, SB 6351, introduced February 9, would exempt services purchased by elementary and secondary schools from the sales tax extension. It also includes exemptions for before- and after-school activities and programs. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing in Senate Ways & Means on February 19.

Passed the House (57-37). The bill would significantly restrict the use of chemical, mechanical, or physical restraint except in cases of imminent harm and would prohibit construction of new isolation spaces.

Passed the House (78-19). This bill would allow districts, under certain conditions, to issue bonds without a public vote for authorized facilities purposes, subject to the statutory indebtedness limit (0.375%). A district must have voter-approved capital levy authority and not have been in binding conditions within the prior three years.

Passed the House unanimously. Requires districts to provide parents a copy of the special education evaluation report no later than the 35th school day after consent to evaluate, unless waived.

Would codify federal McKinney-Vento requirements into state law. Much of this is already practiced, but it does not repeal existing state homeless student provisions.

Would require the universal High School and Beyond Plan to import financial aid application data from the Washington Student Achievement Council and add notification requirements regarding the Opportunity Scholarship.

Passed the Senate (30-19). Prohibits immigration enforcement officers from entering nonpublic areas of schools without a judicial warrant or court order.

Addresses potential misuse of AI or facial recognition in student discipline. The bill directs WSSDA to develop a model policy. Districts should review potential implications for vendor agreements and technology systems.

Passed unanimously. Would allow districts under binding conditions or enhanced oversight to take temporary, interest-free interfund loans from transportation vehicle funds and seek OSPI approval for certain fund transfers.

Also passed unanimously. Requires additional ESD budget support for financially distressed districts, mandates governance training on school finance for directors, and restricts future employment for individuals found in violation of financial misconduct laws.

Would impose a tax on millionaires. As a revenue bill (Necessary to Implement the Budget), it is not subject to cutoff deadlines and could factor into broader budget negotiations.

At this point in the session, the primary question for K-12 education is not what new investments will be made but whether current funding levels will be maintained.

With budget proposals expected later this month, we will gain clearer insight into whether the Legislature intends to preserve, reduce, or adjust K-12 allocations. Levy authority and LEA remain critically important for sustaining programs and services in Pullman School District.

We will continue to actively monitor bills, advocating for stable and equitable K-12 funding, and keeping our community informed as the session moves toward adjournment in mid-March. We also encourage parents, families, and community members to stay engaged and lend their voices in support of strong K-12 public education, as sustainable and lasting solutions require collective advocacy at both the state and federal level.

To submit written or virtual testimony for Washington state legislative hearings please use the following link https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/

Select the chamber (House or Senate), committee, and hearing date to register for virtual testimony (closes 1 hour before) or submit written comments (accepted up to 24 hours after).

Sincerely,

Bob Maxwell

Superintendent

You can view the Pullman School District Board of Directors meeting schedule on our website. Board meetings are conducted at Pullman High School in the Board Room starting at 6:30pm and are open to the public. If you are interested in engaging with the school board during the public comment section, please visit our website for more information.

This event is designed to be a one-stop opportunity for families to connect with our schools, district staff, and community partners. All district schools will be represented with enrollment assistance and school information for the 2026–2027 school year. Families can also visit with our District Nurse, Nutrition Services, Special Services and Transportation teams to learn more about the services that support students every day.

In addition, the evening will feature Community Connections, hosted by the District’s DEIB Task Force, bringing together local organizations to share resources, services, and opportunities that support children and families.

We are excited to welcome:

and more partners at this event!

The School Board will also be hosting a Community Listening Session during the fair, providing an opportunity for families to share feedback, ask questions, and engage in open dialogue.

Following the PSD Family Fair, families with children who will be 5 years old by August 31, 2026, and entering kindergarten at one of our elementary schools for the 2026–27 school year, are invited to attend our Kindergarten Open House on Thursday, April 23. See below for more information.

Referral forms for current Kindergarten through 11th grade students to receive highly capable services during next school year will be accepted March 9-20, 2026. Parents/guardians, teachers, students, and anyone else with direct knowledge of a student’s abilities may refer a student for highly capable services.

In addition to referrals, universal screener results will also be considered. Our district utilizes the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment in grades K – 8 as a universal screener.

For more information on the Highly Capable Program, the program referral process, or to find referral resources please follow the link below. The Referral Form link below will be live on March 10.

To request a written translation of this notice in another language, please contact the Instructional Programs Office at (509)332-3144.

​Professional development is the strategy schools and school districts use to ensure that educators continue to strengthen their practice. The most effective professional development engages teachers to focus on the needs of their students. They learn and problem solve together in order to ensure all students achieve success. On Friday, February 13th Pullman Public Schools certificated staff engaged in a professional learning day. The schedule of professional development activities included a wide variety of offerings that provided a collaborative learning environment and work time for teachers. Here are the sessions that staff had the opportunity to engage in:

Huge thanks to the National Society of Black Engineers for bringing hands-on STEM fun to PHS & LMS! At LMS, students tackled a spaghetti tower challenge, and at PHS, they put their engineering skills to the test with an Egg Drop. Creative thinking + teamwork in action!

We are grateful for the continued partnership with the Pullman Police Department, especially School Resource Officer Josh Bray, for leading our 5th grade students through the DARE Program. Their commitment to building strong relationships and promoting positive decision-making was on full display at our recent 5th grade DARE Graduation. We also appreciate the support of WSU Athletics, whose involvement helped make the celebration memorable for our students!

We welcome all interested applicants and are committed to hiring the most highly qualified and professional teaching and support staff to serve the students of Pullman. 

 

To submit an employment application, click the button below.

For more information about employment with Pullman School District, please visit our website at: https://www.pullmanschools.org/human-resources

​If you or anyone you know would be interested in subbing for Pullman Schools as a:

Please apply for these positions online at: 

If you or anyone you know would be interested in subbing for Pullman Schools as a:

Please pick up an application at the District Office (240 SE Dexter St).

Questions about employment with Pullman School District?

Contact: Dagny Myers

Phone: (509) 332-3581 | Email: dmyers@psd267.org

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