3/27/2022
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Spokesman- Review
Woodward, council at odds over adding chief of staff
Families no longer have to pay for incarcerated youth in state
Why Ukrainian refugees prefer resettling in Washington
Restorative discipline works in Spokane schools
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Spokesman- Review
Woodward, council at odds over adding chief of staff
By Greg Mason
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward believes her office needs more help to tackle priority issues like housing and homelessness.
Her request to add a chief of staff, however, has some members of the Spokane City Council scratching their heads.
The ask was bundled in legislation reviewed last week by the City Council’s Finance and Administration Committee. The proposed ordinance also includes a new executive assistant for City Administrator Johnnie Perkins and raises for staffers in the City Council office.
When and how the proposals might return to the City Council for consideration is unclear based on the feedback received from last Monday’s meeting, said Council President Breean Beggs. Duties for the chief of staff would include developing policy, providing counsel and executive support to the mayor on issues including strategic objectives, overseeing organizational and community initiatives, and facilitating the mayor’s cabinet meetings, according to a draft description provided through the city.
Woodward said this position would serve as something like a chief strategic officer who would work in tandem with Perkins, the city’s chief operating officer in charge of putting policy into action.
“We are in a process of identifying funds as we move the homeless initiative forward, because there is a higher cost to that, but in order to do the work, we have to have the staffing to do the work,” she said.
The job’s salary and benefits
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would total approximately $148,000. When asked to justify the chief of staff cost given issues like homelessness facing the city, Woodward pointed to the City Council’s staffing additions in 2020, including a communications director and four research analysts.
Woodward, who believes the mayor’s office staff has been “very, very small” even before her time in office, pointed to Salt Lake City and Boise as comparable city governments that employ mayoral chiefs of staff.
“Coming out of this pandemic, I would really like to spend the rest of my first term focusing on what my initiatives are of housing, homelessness, economic development and public safety,” Woodward said, “and to have staff that canassist me with that is imperative.”
The salary and benefits for the city administrator’s executive assistant would total approximately $55,500, according to the legislation.
Given the extent of Perkins’ responsibilities, which also include labor negotiations and employee relations, Woodward said she was surprised he doesn’t already have an assistant. While not included in this proposal, the mayor plans to again request a deputy city administrator position in the 2023 budget after the council rejected the idea for this year’s spending plan.
The approximately $42,700 in raises proposed for four council office positions to bring them to a level equivalent to similar administration positions, said Council President Breean Beggs. The largest is a $21,700 proposed increase for Hannahlee Allers, director of the City Council office; Beggs said Allers currently makes approximately $ 80,700.
Beggs said the city’s Human Resources department recommended to reclassify Allers’ salary since her supervisory responsibilities have grown with the expansion in council office staff.
“We just hadn’t gotten around to doing it, and she’s doing a much bigger job than what she used to,” Beggs said.
Brandy Cote, the director of the mayor’s office, is listed on the city’s website as the chief of staff, as she has worked in that role “on paper,” but not formally, said city spokesman Brian Coddington. Under the proposed organizational chart, Cote would work under the chief of staff in a position titled “director of strategic initiatives.”
Along with Perkins, the mayor’s office staff includes the office director, an operations manager and a policy adviser. Beggs does not support the chief of staff proposal, saying he does not see a difference between that job and a director of the mayor’s office.
“From what I understood listening to the mayor and City Administrator Perkins, they want someone to do more policy work than operational work, but they already have a policy adviser,” he said. “Really, the City Council is the one that does policy. The mayor’s office does operations.”
Councilwoman Lori Kinnear also said she sees overlap with the mayor’s chief of staff and the director of strategic initiatives.
At the moment, she would support the raise for Allers, given the circumstances of how that was promised to her more than a year ago, and the executiveassistant for Perkins given his level of responsibilities.
Kinnear said she is otherwise reluctant to consider the other proposals given how levels of pay for lower-wage city employees is not congruent with the city’s cost of living – something she hopes to see addressed in the next round of union contract negotiations.
One of the proposed raises in the council office is for a vacant position, the initiative manager for housing and homelessness. Kinnear said she plans to suggest not filling that job, instead turning that work over to the city’s housing and human services department.
“That is a lot of money, and I just have a little bit of heartburn over that,” Kinnear said of the chief of staff’s salary and benefits. “Ultimately, I want to make sure that we’re taking care of the staff, first and foremost, in terms of salary and benefits. Once we do that, we can look at other positions.”
Councilwoman Karen Stratton also believes there is enough staff in the mayor’s office and the city that could handle what a chief of staff could do for Woodward. She would, however, support the council salary increases, while she isn’t entirely sold on the executive assistant for Perkins.
Clearer are Stratton’s feelings that the proposed increases are awkwardly timed.
“Some of us are still going over to Camp Hope and checking on people, and that’s been a big priority to get people sheltered,” she said. “To me, that should be where our focus is at right now.”
Greg Mason can be reached at (509) 459-5047 or gregm@spokesman.com.
Families no longer have to pay for incarcerated youth in state
By Arielle Dreher
THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Parents will no longer have to foot the bill if their teen is sentenced to juvenile rehabilitation in Washington.
The Washington Legislature voted to end this practice – called parent pay – and Gov. Jay Inslee signed the bill this week. Furthermore, all such debts owed by families will be canceled.
There were 240 families that owed the state a total of $1.147 million for parent pay, according to data from the Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Families were billed based on their income level and the child’s duration of stay in custody by the Department of Social and Health Services Office of Financial Recovery. The median owed was $537.
Parent pay has been state law since the 1970s when other “tough on crime” legislation and other restrictive criminal justice measures were enacted. When the Washington Legislature passed the Youth Equality and Reintegration Act in 2015, most non-restitution legal and financial obligations for youth charged with crimes were eliminated.
Parent pay remained, however, and this year, the Department of Children, Youth and Families initiated the change in state law.
“So many practices like this are rooted in historically racist and ‘punishable’ eras, and we just know better about what families need,” Allison Krutsinger, director of government affairs at DCYF, said. “(The department) is dedicated to analyzing history and making changes to the work we do and this fell right into that category.”
The department had the support of two advocacy organizations to get the law changed, including the Center for Children and Youth Justice.
“My view has been that we’ve got to address not just the short-term issues but the long-term systemic issues at the same time,” Rachel Sottile, president of the center, said. “(Eliminating) parent pay is the step to do that.”
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Incarcerated youth in Washington state are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, Native American or Pacific Islanders.
A mid-2021 report on the number of youth in Juvenile Rehabilitation shows that 68% of youth in a facility are not white, nearly an inverse of the statewide population. The majority are males.
Krutsinger said youth in juvenile rehabilitation are typically from lower-incomefamilies. The practice of parent pay would sometimes come as an added shock to families already reeling from the fact that their child had been sentenced to a facility by a county juvenile court.
Sottile described one family as being shocked and in awe when a bill for thousands of dollars showed up after their child was sent away. No one had told them.
Other families are forced to make choices: go into debt with the state or pay for rent, food or other necessities.
“It’s punishing the poor and putting a price tag on justice and the constitutional right to freedom,” Sottile said.
The department recognized that this practice was not only antiquated but also did not line up with its equity efforts.
“DCYF has been working to eliminate practices that are harmful to children and their families, and particularly those practices that are financially stupid,” DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter said in a news release.
Technically, parent pay was a line-item in the department’s budget, but it would never materialize to what it should have because families would not pay.
Each year, parent payment was budgeted at $1.8 million of the department’s biennium budget, but only a quarter of those funds were being collected.
This session, the Legislature also appropriated the necessary funding to the department to cover the budget hole left now that parent pay is eliminated.
House Bill 2050 eliminated parent pay at both the state and county levels, so families should not incur bills or charges for their child or teen being locked up in a county jail or when they go into juvenile rehabilitation.
Looking ahead, Sottile said she will be pushing for the repeal of all legal and financial obligations that come from sending youth and teens into the juvenile justice system. These include a DNA collection fee, criminal victims assessment penalty and restitution that youth and families may still have to pay, despite the 2015 changes in Washington state law.
To Sottile and her organization, imposing fines and fees on families that further entrench them in the criminal justice system is not a solution.
“Any time you put money in the formula for your constitutional right to freedom, you will have inequities,” she said. Even the department is working on further changes to the way it charges families for services. Krutsinger said that a similar pay structure is in place for children whose parents lose custody of them. That policy, while more complicated to change, is one that the department is working to fix as well, especially as it is one that keeps families in poverty.
DCYF is a relatively new state agency in Washington, created in 2017 to overhaul the state’s foster care system and ideally, create better outcomes for families. Children in Juvenile Rehabilitation are under the care of the department.
Advocating for the end of parent pay is emblematic of the department’s continued efforts to make changes in the statewide system of care for children, officials said.
“You can expect to see the department make bold changes,” Krutsinger said.Arielle Dreher can be reached at (509) 459-5467 or at arielled@spokesman. com.
Why Ukrainian refugees prefer resettling in Washington
By Alison Saldanha
SEATTLE TIMES
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now in its fourth week, the human cost of war continues to mount. President Vladimir Putin’s widening bombardment of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities has so far rendered nearly 3.5 million people refugees and has internally displaced an additional 6.5 million people, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Last week, President Joe Biden said the U.S. will welcome Ukrainian refugees “with open arms.” But until Congress decides to grant Ukrainians humanitarian parole status to enter the country without a visa on humanitarian grounds – used last year to resettle more than 70,000 Afghan evacuees after the Taliban reconquered Afghanistan – it may be a while before those fleeing Ukraine arrive to the country.
When they do, they are most likely to flock to Washington state, which is a growing hub for Ukrainians and Ukrainian refugees.
Over the last 10 years, more Ukrainian refugees arrived in Washington than any other state in the U.S., according to a Seattle Times analysis of data from the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration. Their arrivals particularly increased after 2014 when Congress authorized refugee admission as the conflict in Eastern Ukraine with Russian separatists escalated.Since then, Ukrainian refugees are the single largest refugee group in Washington state, though the total number of refugee arrivals declined in the U.S. during the Trump presidency and since the start of the pandemic.
An established immigrant community of Ukrainians in Washington state is one of the main reasons Ukrainian refugees choose to arrive here, said Oleg Pynda, executive director of the Ukrainian Community Center of Washington.
Washington has the largest Ukrainian population in the U.S. after California and New York. Ukrainians are also the fastest growing European immigrant community in the state, U.S. Census Bureau data shows. A significant portion of Ukrainians live in the Seattle area, particularly Southeast Seattle and Kent, as well as in Pasco.
Refugee organizations also attribute the state’s responsiveness to providingrefugees with assistance as a major reason for the community’s growth. Overall, Washington state is one of the top initial resettlement destinations for refugees coming to the U.S., according to an analysis of refugee arrival data from the U.S. Department of State.
“The state of Washington has been a very welcoming state for refugees so we have a strong resettlement network and a strong Ukrainian community,” said David Duea, executive director of the Lutheran Community Services Northwest.
In the early 2000s, the state was home to one of the largest second migrations in the country, Pynda said. “They call it the second migration from Ukraine,” he said, referring to refugees initially assigned to volunteer agencies in different states eventually moving to Washington.
“So many, for instance, would arrive in California, but then relocate to Washington because they found greater support here as churches and the community grew.”
Another reason is the mild, temperate Pacific Northwest weather. “Climate- wise, Washington’s much better than California. It’s pretty much the same climate like in Ukraine and the summers are much easier here,” Pynda said.
New arrivals also look to relocate to a region where they can find people who speak their language and know their culture so they can build relationships, said Mahnaz Eshetu, executive director of the Refugee Women’s Alliance.
“They feel closer to the people who came here before them from their homeland,” Eshetu said. “It offers a comfort to merge into the community and establish yourself, because your people understand you better.”
Between October 2021 and February 2022, Washington state welcomed six more Ukrainian refugees than it did during the entire previous year when the pandemic disrupted international travel.
But since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this stream of refugees into Washington has all but stopped, and the U.S. embassy there has closed.
“We are hoping that Congress will soon authorize refugees from Ukraine to enter into the U.S. through parole,” Pynda said.
For now, most Ukrainian refugees are fleeing to neighboring Eastern European countries Poland, Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Belarus, according to UNHCR, the United Nations refugee agency. Homeland Security experts expect many will try to stay close to Ukraine in the hopes that the war will end and they may be able to return to their homeland.
Still, agencies are preparing for an influx when Ukrainians do manage to secure refugee status or parole. Pynda said he expect new arrivals within the next six months.
While some Washingtonians have already come forward to support the resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, providing culturally sensitive mental health resources in multiple languages is a key concern for refugee organizations working on rehabilitation and resettlement.
“We’re going to see a lot with PTSD and other issues and, unfortunately, there are not so many mental health professionals who are bilingual and bicultural in a way that meets those needs,” Pynda said.
Washington’s existing Ukrainian community is already in need of these services, he said.
“We actually need it now because already there are many Ukrainians, especially elderly, who are here in the U.S. and anxious and depressed as their children are impacted by the war,” he said. “We have to enhance our mental health system to be ready to address that growth, especially when the new arrivals will be here.”
“ They feel closer to the people who came here before them from their homeland.
It offers a comfort to merge into the community and establish yourself, because your people understand you better.”
Mahnaz Eshetu
Executive director of the Refugee Women’s Alliance
Ukrainian Iryna Sapielkna, with husband Artyem Ryzhhov, displays the clothing she wore when she was shot in a car, apparently by Russian military, as they fled from Kharkiv on March 1. The couple, with their four kids, arrived Monday in Spokane as refugees.
COLIN MULVANY/ THE SPOKESMAN-REVIEW
Restorative discipline works in Spokane schools
By Bob Murphy and Fred Schrumpf
In the past two weeks, three articles in The Spokesman-Review reported the Spokane Police Department challenged Spokane Public Schools over a perceived lack of reporting school assaults and threats and asked the FBI to investigate.
Police departments can’t ignore such serious allegations, but why the need to call in the FBI before asking the district leadership team to meet?
Some historical context is important.
In 2015, numerous community organizations – including the NAACP, Northwest Autism Center, Every Student Counts Alliance, ARC of Spokane and Team Child – approached Spokane Public Schools and asked the district to engage in discussions regarding the effect the discipline policy was having on students and schools. During the 2014-15 school year alone, more than 800 arrests and referrals were made to juvenile court.
Further analysis showed the suspension rate in Spokane Schools was 8.5% of the student population, second highest of all Washington districts and more than twice the average in the state of 3.9%.
Additionally, students of color and students with disabilities were suspended at a much higher rate, and disciplinary actions impacted the graduation rate. In essence, a large segment of the Spokane community challenged the district to address the fact schools were criminalizing student misbehavior and thus feeding the school-to-prison pipeline.
Spokane Public Schools accepted the challenge and initiated a comprehensive review and districtwide implementation plan. The superintendent at the time established a task force representing all stakeholders. Community safety representatives, including the police department and Spokane County Juvenile Court, participated in the process. The task force’s efforts culminated in a resolution designating a restorative practice focus as the core of the discipline policy.
The school board adopted policy changes to reflect the restorative focus and address the inequities. The ACLU praised the district’s efforts specifically noting language to guide school staff in understanding “how and when” to contact the police.
The implementation plan included staff training throughout the district. Teachers were trained to implement restorative practice at the classroom level and administrators learned best practices to implement building level interventions.
Additional training including, the impact of trauma, the effect of adverse childhood experiences and knowledge of culturally responsive teaching.
Restorative practices in a school setting are designed to build community by strengthening relationships, supporting people harmed and promoting student responsibility. A restorative approach to student behavior never stands alone but is balanced with the need for appropriate disciplinary action essential to safe schools. Not everyone agrees with a restorative focus. Isolated negative incidents, however, should not override the greater benefit the district has achieved. Schools are experiencing safer, more supportive environments because students are accepting responsibility for their actions, harm is repaired and conflicts resolved. Involvement with juvenile court and entry into the criminal justice system rarely leads to such opportunities for growth and responsibility.
Comparing data from 2014-15 and 2018-19 highlights the positive impact.
Arrests fell from 806 to 88. Exclusionary discipline – meaning suspensions and expulsions – followed suit, dropping from 4,051 to 3,052. During that same time, graduation rates increased from 84.5% to 89.3% In addition, suspension and arrest rates show little disproportionality for students of color or student with disabilities. Students not only are staying in school but doing so with a greater sense of responsibility to the community and each other.
The district should be commended for the responsive way it engaged with the community. Teachers, administrators and classified staff who worked so hard to implement the new discipline policy should have the opportunity to be heard about the real impact restorative practices have had in schools.
Students should also have a voice in a community discussion. We are blessed with an excellent leadership team and thoughtful school board representatives. How long do you think these caring individuals will continue to serve if we keep thwarting the good they strive to do for our children, families and the community as a whole?
As a community, we all must find a way to work together, talk directly, and develop policies to support the safety and well-being of all students and families.
If police leadership is not willing to sit down with the district to create solutions, then it may be time for the mayor and other elected officials to extend the invitation. In fact, let’s all make a commitment to building a restorative community and let’s all be willing to make our own personal contribution to the effort.
Bob Murphy is a former educator and school administrator in Alaska and current restorative practice mediator/facilitator.
Fred Schrumpf is former principal of Havermale High School and district coordinator for community partnerships and restorative practices for Spokane Public Schools. Brian Melody and Cleve Penberthy also contributed to this column.
Melody is former SPS elementary school director and principal of Adams, Sheridan and Woodridge elementaries. Penberthy is former principal of West Valley High School and Contract-Based Education, and former superintendent of schools in Telluride, Colorado. All four live in Spokane.
By Kathy Orton
WASHINGTON POST
Mortgage rates showed no let up in their upward march this week.
According to data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average jumped more than a quarter percentage point in one week, surging to 4.42% with an average 0.8 point.
It was 4.16% a week ago and 3.17% a year ago.
The 30-year fixed average has risen 1.2% points since the start of the year.
Freddie Mac, the federally chartered mortgage investor, aggregates rates from around 80 lenders across the country to come up with weekly national averages.
The survey is based on home purchase mortgages.
Rates for refinances may be different. It uses rates for high-quality borrowers with strong credit scores and large down payments. Because of the criteria, these rates are not available to every borrower.
The 15-year fixed-rate average climbed to 3.63% with an average 0.8 point.