By Boris Kurbanov, Jewish Sound Correspondent
Our state’s schoolchildren and their parents, whether they know it or not, are relying on Marcie Maxwell to deliver. One of Gov. Jay Inslee’s key officials responsible for ensuring the state Supreme Court’s landmark 2012 school-funding McCleary decision is adhered to and funded is Maxwell, who serves as the governor’s senior education policy adviser. Maxwell focuses on K-12, early learning, higher education policy and continuing education in the state to ensure every child has every tool available to be successful.
The McCleary decision, which declared Washington state’s education funding system unconstitutional, rendered the state unable to meet its duty to fully fund basic education and called for the state to increase funding by more than $4 billion for K-12 by 2018. Education policy has always been at the top of the former House representative’s list of legislative issues, and McCleary is her most pressing concern at the moment —in particular how to fund it without cutting other important state services.
“I’m right in the midst of McCleary K-12 basic education funding, plus aligning and funding early learning and higher education as ‘the new minimum’ 21st century education,” Maxwell wrote in an email.
The biggest question surrounding the McCleary funding is where the money will come from. Gov. Inslee said in September that his budget team is working to craft a plan for the next session that will include funding for education. Maxwell said the governor’s budget team is still working to find new revenue sources. The state spent $16.7 billion on K-12 education in the 2011-13 biennium, according to “A Citizen’s Guide to the Washington State Budget,” a 2013 publication created by the legislature.
“While part of the solution will be efficiencies and revenue growth, we need to add new ample and stable revenue to fund education without cutting deeper into the safety net for vulnerable people,” Maxwell said. “Revenue ideas are being considered as part of the budget process.”
In November 2012, Maxwell said deep cuts had already been made, noting the state had already cut $10 billion in the previous decade for vital services and education, adding that “cutting any more [social services for education] is not a viable option.”
Maxwell, a Democrat from Renton, served three terms in the state Legislature as the deputy majority leader for education and opportunity. Her work in education policy won her the Friend of Education award in 2012, acknowledging her efforts in addressing critical issues facing public education, as well as for her work in “ensuring a better life for public school students in the state.” In 2011, Maxwell received the Friend of Children award, the state’s highest PTA honor.
In July 2013, Maxwell resigned to join Gov. Jay Inslee’s staff and brought her background in education policy and funding and business experience to the new leadership role.
“I actually gave the Inslee team several recommendations of people to consider,” Maxwell said. “Their answer was, ‘How about you?’…. I’m pleased to help Gov. Inslee shape his education agenda and to work with many education stakeholders on his behalf.”
In the McCleary ruling, the court stated it “cannot stand idly by as the legislature makes unfulfilled promises for reform,” and required the legislature to report annually for five years on its progress toward meeting the funding obligations. This year’s session, held on Sept. 3 in Olympia’s Temple of Justice, was tense. Justices questioned an attorney representing the legislature as to why the court shouldn’t hold lawmakers in contempt for not fully funding K-12 education, according to the Seattle Times. On Sept. 11, the court unanimously found the legislature was not living up to its “paramount duty… to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders.” It did not impose sanctions or punishments, but the court ruled it would consider such actions after the 2015 legislative session ends.
“The 2015 legislative session will be challenging, and legislators will need all of us in the public to urge them on and support their votes to raise needed revenue to produce a sustainable budget,” Maxwell said. “My biggest concern is getting beyond soundbites and onto comprehensive solutions that support public education and ensure a quality of life for all people and communities.”
Maxwell is a Seattle native, having grown up in South Seattle’s Sephardic community. In addition to her role in bettering the education of students of all ages and ensuring students are STEM-literate and prepared for the careers of tomorrow, Maxwell is a Realtor and small business owner with a prior career in banking management.
She points to U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, “a mom in tennis shoes and now an important leader for our state and nation,” as her inspiration and extended a word of advice for those looking to pursue a role in politics: “Especially for women who are considering when the right time in your family or career life is — there’s never a perfect time,” she said. “Now is the right time.”
For Maxwell, now is also the right time for progress in regard to McCleary funding. The court will reconvene in April, and justices have remarked that lawmakers “weren’t moving fast enough,” ordering them to provide a complete plan by the end of April.
Maxwell knows she is on the clock.