Goodman: a trusted supporter of the education system | Letter

Published 9:30 am Saturday, July 30, 2016

Today I learned about a negative campaign flier that has been circulated by a group called Quality Communities Committee (Reagan Fund). This flier makes the absurd claim that Roger Goodman voted against the smaller class sizes required by Initiative 1351; voted on and passed by the voters in 2014.

I am a retired schoolteacher. I taught grades two through six at Bear Creek Elementary in the Northshore School District. I lived in Woodinville for 39 years, and all four of my children attended kindergarten through 12th grades in Northshore. I worked hard to get out the vote to pass 1351. I know from nearly 30 years work in public classrooms that class size is one of the most important factors in allowing teachers the time and ability to respond to the many distinct needs of the students we serve. If Goodman had voted to defund 1351, I would be livid.

That is not what happened.

In reality, he has supported class size reductions.

Goodman voted against HB 2266, which would have rolled back funding for smaller class sizes, during the last legislative session. He DID vote to pass the final operating budget that had been hammered out as a compromise and was passed unanimously by all members of the legislature. The fact that class size reduction had been “compromised away” is sad – but certainly not Goodman’s fault. Would the Reagan Fund have had Goodman vote unilaterally against a compromise budget?

I support Goodman for re-election as State Representative for the 45th District for many reasons. One of the most important reasons is that he is a trusted supporter of the education system that I hold so dear. I know that he has and will continue to search for solutions to the funding crisis faced by Washington state schools.

Peggy Sherman

Seattle