Bill > SB5860

This bill significantly increases the compensation for school board members, known as school directors, who have not seen a pay increase in 40 years, aiming to attract a more diverse pool of qualified candidates and ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent individuals from serving. The daily compensation for attending meetings and performing duties will rise from $50 to $100, with an annual cap increasing from $4,800 to $13,750, though compensation exceeding $3,000 annually requires board authorization. Importantly, this compensation can only be paid from locally collected excess levy funds and cannot create state funding obligations. The bill also expands the types of expenses that school directors can be reimbursed for, specifically including costs for childcare. Furthermore, it mandates a training program developed by the Washington state school directors' association on school district funding and finance for all school directors, requiring them to complete it within their first year of service, with a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027, for this training provision, contingent on specific funding being provided.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5860&Year=2025&Initiative=false