SENATE RESOLUTION

8777

By Senators McAuliffe, Roach, Johnson, Long, Honeyford, Hewitt, Fraser, Rasmussen and Spanel

WHEREAS, Providing all Washington State children a public education is the paramount duty of the state; and

     WHEREAS, It is impossible to provide our children a quality public education if they cannot get to school, if they are hungry during the school day, or if the schools they arrive at are neglected, cold and unsafe; and

     WHEREAS, Classified employees are the bus drivers who safely transport, in sometimes dangerous road conditions, more than 463,105 students each day in 8,874 busses over 465,000 miles; the child nutrition employees who provide lunches for more than 459,000 students each day; the custodian, maintenance, and security employees who ensure that the 2,071 school buildings where our children receive their education are functional, warm, clean, and safe; and

     WHEREAS, Classified employees are the secretaries who make sure that all parents, staff, and most importantly, all children receive the necessary support and services while at the same time provide love and attention to each student=s special needs, even if all that is needed is a Band-Aid, a friendly ear or reminder; and

     WHEREAS, Classified employees are the instructional assistants who are increasingly depended upon to provide individual attention to students in the classroom to ensure they meet the higher academic standards, as well as provide such specialized services as nursing and interpreting for deaf and disabled children and students who speak other languages; and

     WHEREAS, Classified employees are normally the first employees called upon when there is a threat to our children=s safety and security; and

     WHEREAS, It is necessary to employ more than 50,000 classified employees to provide these essential support services to the nearly one million students receiving public education; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State students have had their education significantly enhanced by the services of classified school employees; and

     WHEREAS, Washington State citizens seldom reflect on the critical role classified employees play in providing our children a quality education.

     NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honors classified school employees during Classified School Employee Week, March 11 through 15, 2002, and urges all citizens to join in honoring and recognizing the dedication and hard work of all classified school employees; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Public School Employees of Washington.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8777,

adopted by the Senate March 14, 2002.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate