By Tim Burgess, Seattle City Council

Ed. Note: This piece originally appeared in Tim Burgess' "City View" newsletter.

Education has been in the news a lot lately.

Yesterday, Seattle voters once again granted supplemental funding for our public schools by overwhelmingly approving two Seattle School District levies. The continued generosity of this city amazes me.

You might have also read about a court case regarding state funding for education.

A King County Superior Court ruling last week eloquently articulated the importance of a good educational system: educated citizens are crucial to a healthy democracy, a robust economy, a fair justice system and a strong pluralistic and equitable society.

In essence, everything we strive for here in City Hall starts with education.

"Paramount Duty"

The legal judgment of the Superior Court ruling is interesting.

Article 9 of the Washington Constitution states, “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste or sex.”

Washington is special in this regard – no other state constitution says education is the state’s number-one obligation.

The court found that, despite some progress, the state “remains out of compliance” with this constitutional obligation.

Now, the state legislature must work harder to find and implement a consistent and ample source of funding for education.

The City’s Role

But, I believe, the city also has a very important role to play.

We must be a strong partner with the Seattle School District, encouraging and providing accountability for their efforts.

And, we have our own work to do. As chair of the council’s Public Safety and Education Committee, I am engaged in the early stages of planning for renewal of the Families and Education Levy, still two years away.

During the past year, I have participated in very good discussions with others in city government, the school district and advocacy groups about the potential for real reform in public education.

We have looked closely at models like the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York and STRIVE in Cincinnati. Both of these groups are introducing creative and effective innovations in public education.

Joleen and I, and all three of our daughters, are products of the city’s public schools. We all received an excellent education.

Not every Seattle parent can make that claim, and I’m old enough to know that this has been the state of affairs for nearly 40 years in this good city.

What’s needed is a groundswell of people power that will demand reforms—measurable outcomes for both student and teacher performance, stopping the practice of staff layoffs based on seniority instead of capability and performance, and incorporating social services for kids and families in a “community school” approach.

Every child in every neighborhood deserves a high-quality education in a safe and effective education environment. This is “must do” work.

I am pleased Mayor McGinn also takes this issue very seriously and is seeking extensive community input through his new Youth and Family Initiative.

There is a lot of momentum and energy here.

A New Youth Voice

Almost 20 percent of Seattle’s population is younger than 20; not many can vote, but most can actively participate in the life of this city.

To encourage this involvement, I introduced legislation Feb. 8 establishing the Seattle Youth Commission.

The commission will be a continuation of a program started in 2003 by Mayor Nickels. Its new status and mandate will draw it closer to the council and the mayor.

Twenty-five youth from all 13 districts of the city will serve one-year terms, during which they will seek input from their peers, develop policy proposals and lobby my colleagues and me on issues that matter to them. I look forward to hearing from them.

Improving our education system will not be quick or easy. The hardest work will always be done by educators themselves, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to contribute.