Superintendent’s Blog: Advocating for Adequate Funding for Special Education and the Power of Inclusion

Hi BSD Family, 

On Monday, I spent the day on the University of Washington campus with 16 other superintendents from across the state (Yakima, Vancouver, Oak Harbor, Tukwila, etc.) to strategize how we are going to advocate for ample and equitable funding for public education in this upcoming legislative session. This convening was funded in part by our very own Bellevue Schools Foundation.  

Advocating for Ample Funding for Special Education and the Power of Inclusion 

One of the key areas of funding we are advocating for is in special education. The state does not come close to providing the funding needed to provide for the needs of our students with disabilities. At the convening, to ground our advocacy in the value of inclusion and accessibility (a BSD priority over the next five years), Dr. Jeff Snell, Superintendent of the Vancouver School District, shared about his incredible son, Micah, who is an 8th grader and has a rare disability. Dr. Snell shared how he and his son have run over 35 marathons together, how their family and Micah’s teachers focus on what Micah “can” do, rather than what he “can’t” do, and how inclusion has benefited not just his son’s life but the lives of all the kids who are fortunate enough to learn alongside Micah.  
 

Dr. Snell then gave each one of us copies of the book, Micah the Mighty Marathoner, for all of our elementary school libraries. This book was written by Dr. Snell’s daughter, Mackenzie, and is about Micah and how he loves running marathons with his dad. As we close out Disability History and Awareness Month and National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I’m excited to deliver copies of this book to all of our Bellevue elementary school libraries over the next week. Serving students with disabilities is not only important to me, it’s personal – and is part of my family’s story. I commit to our community to advocate for kids with disabilities, for inclusionary practices, and for the funding our kids deserve.  

This coming Monday, Bellevue is hosting another 40 superintendents and leaders from around the country from districts like Baltimore County, Mesa, Boulder Valley, and more. We get to showcase the excellence and innovation of our district as well as tackle shared problems around enrollment and budget deficits. Dr. Snell has generously donated books for me to share with each of these district leaders as well as we collectively recognize National Disability Awareness Month and advocate for increased investments in special education. 

Join My Book Study on Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation 

It's not too late to sign up to join me for a book study discussion on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. Even if you haven't read the book, we’ll structure the conversation so that everyone can participate in a conversation about our kids’ mental health and the impact of social media and cell phones. Again, thank you to the Bellevue Schools Foundation as well as the Bellevue PTSA Council for helping sponsor this event! 

Date: November 12, 2024 
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. 
Location: Wilburton Instructional Service Center (WISC), Rainier Room 
Address: 12241 Main St, Bellevue WA 98005 
RSVP here! 

For Our Future World, 

Dr. Aramaki