Each year a Legislative conference is held to provide school board directors, superintendents and other district leaders the opportunity meet one-on-one with legislators to hear and discuss the latest updates on policy and budget issues.

This year, Superintendent Kelly Shea and Director Bev Horan accompanied Mollie Smith and Joseph Landoni, Sequim School District student board representatives, to Washington State School Directors’ Association Legislative Day on Capitol Hill in Olympia on Sunday and Monday, March 10-11.

Sunday’s agenda featured prominent speakers on education issues. Gov. Jay Inslee discussed ways to support education. Randy Dorn, state Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke about graduation requirements, state testing, the Teacher/Principal Evaluation Project and common core curriculum state standards.

On Monday morning, the Sequim contingency met with Reps. Kevin Van de Wege and Steve Tharinger. Smith and Landoni, both students at Sequim High School, had an opportunity to give voice to their ideas and concerns.

The group then observed the opening of the session from the Senate balcony and remained for a time to listen to the business being conducted.

“Having our student representatives along with us, and hearing the unique perspective they offered, as we observed our state legislators in action, was truly inspirational,” Shea said.