This bill aims to update the compensation structure for school board directors in Washington State, which has remained unchanged for 40 years. It amends RCW 28A.343.400 to increase the daily compensation for board members from $50 to $100, with an annual cap raised from $4,800 to $13,750. Additionally, any compensation exceeding $3,000 per year must be authorized by the board and can only be funded through locally collected levy funds. The bill also introduces provisions for directors to waive their compensation and mandates that any adjustments in compensation apply to current directors. Furthermore, the Office of Financial Management is tasked with reviewing and adjusting compensation every five years based on cost-of-living changes.

The bill also establishes a new training requirement for school directors regarding district funding and finance. The Washington State School Directors' Association is responsible for developing a training program that covers state and local funding structures, budgeting practices, and fiscal accountability. All current directors must complete this training within one year of the bill's effective date, while newly elected or appointed directors must do so within their first year in office. The training will be provided at no cost to the directors, who will also be compensated for their participation. The provisions related to the training program will take effect on January 1, 2027, and will be null and void if specific funding is not allocated by June 30, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 28A.343.400, 28A.320.050