One thing I am constantly learning as I grow as a teacher-leader is that systems are all far more complex than they may seem from the outside. This week at the Washington Educator Conference in Seatac, I-1351 and the McClearly case have been frequent topics of conversation. In particular, I found AWSP’s position on 1351 interesting.

McClearly and I-1351. The two are inexorably linked: both call for improvements to the Washington education system. Both have at heart (I believe) what is best for students and schools in Washington. Both, however, bring many, many dollar signs. As a result, I’m hearing again and again here at WEC that no matter what solution (“solution” = me being optimistic) precipitates from this coming legislative session it will need to include new revenue. That’s polite language for taxes.

Dan Steele, Assistant Executive Director of WASA (Washington Association of School Principals) shared one statistic in particular that I found interesting. Based on data from the state Office of Financial Management, per capita total taxes have remained remarkably stagnant since 1960, while per capita personal income has multiplied by over ten times. The gist: despite what it feels like, we as citizen are not as over taxed as we might think. One sobering comparison: if the ratio of per capita taxes to per capita personal income were the same now as it was in 1990, our state would have over $15 billion in additional revenue for the current biennium.

My point: whether it is 1351 or McCleary, we will need to find a way to fund it. That will mean taxes. Personally, I am okay with paying a bit more in taxes because I realize that doing so means I am investing in my community. If 1351 passes, as I am confident it will, we need to recognize that we are not voting just for the “premise” of smaller class sizes: that vote is a commitment that we as voters are wiling to personally invest in what it takes to make change in our schools a reality.