January 2024 marked the inaugural celebration of Chinese American/Americans of Chinese Descent History Month in Washington State.

This significant recognition was established by legislation signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee in May 2023, making Washington the first state in the nation to honor Chinese Americans in this unique and meaningful way.

Lawmakers chose the month of January for the new acknowledgment due to its proximity to Lunar New Year, celebrated in locations throughout the world. The first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year typically falls within the month of January or early February on the Gregorian calendar, making it a fitting month to pay tribute to the rich heritage and contributions of Chinese Americans.

This month, I attended the WASA/WSSDA/WASBO Legislative Conference, where school leaders from across Washington gathered to advocate for their communities and prepare for the 2026 legislative session, which began on January 12, 2026. These conversations focused on common challenges facing public schools and the changes needed to better support students wellbeing and learning.

While school districts are required to meet extensive state requirements, funding has not kept pace with the true cost of providing those services. As a result, districts are increasingly forced to rely on local levies or make difficult budget decisions that impact programs and services.

MSOC covers essential non-staffing costs that allow schools to operate safely and effectively, including utilities, insurance, instructional materials, technology, transportation support, and custodial and maintenance supplies.

State MSOC allocations have not kept pace with these costs, forcing districts to redirect local levy dollars away from enrichment and toward basic operations. Education leaders are supporting legislation to increase MSOC funding by $100 per student or $100,000 per district, whichever is greater to help districts operate safely and effectively without diverting local levy dollars from student programs.

Recent changes to state sales tax law expanded taxation to include temporary staffing services, certain IT-related training, and professional learning, creating unintended consequences for school districts.

Districts rely on contracted specialists to meet legally required services such as speech therapy, occupational and physical therapy, nursing, and behavioral supports especially during ongoing workforce shortages. Taxing these services increases costs without providing additional state funding. Similarly, taxing professional learning reduces resources available for educator training tied to curriculum implementation, instructional improvement, and safe technology use. Education leaders are advocating to exempt essential school district services and professional learning from sales tax to keep limited education dollars focused on student learning.

Since 2018, the Legislature has enacted 77 new school-year requirements, many without full funding or staffing support. At the same time, critical areas such as special education, transportation, staffing, and school funding formulas remain underfunded.

Education leaders are requesting:

These priorities are intended to move the state closer to fully funding basic education and avoid shifting costs to local school districts, and provide districts with greater flexibility by pausing new unfunded mandates so they can focus on student wellbeing and learning.

If you're interested in getting involved and advocating for education funding, we also encourage you to connect with your District 9 Legislators:

Together, these priorities are focused on ensuring the state meets its obligation to fully fund basic education, rather than shifting costs to local school districts and communities. We will continue to keep families and community members informed throughout the legislative session and appreciate your continued support for public education.

Sincerely,

Bob Maxwell

Superintendent, Pullman Public Schools

The 2025–26 State of the District presentation, delivered by Superintendent Dr. Maxwell at the Pullman Chamber of Commerce Luncheon on January 13, 2026, is now available to view online.

This presentation has also been shared with community groups, PTA/PTO and Booster clubs, and district staff as part of our ongoing effort to keep our community informed and engaged.

The State of the District provides an overview of:

We encourage families, staff, and community members to view the presentation to learn more about where our district is today and the work ahead as we continue supporting student success.

You can view the Pullman School District Board of Directors meeting schedule on our website. Board meetings are conducted at Pullman High School in the Board Room starting at 6:30pm and are open to the public. If you are interested in engaging with the school board during the public comment section, please visit our website for more information.

Referral forms for current Kindergarten through 11th grade students to receive highly capable services during next school year will be accepted March 10-20, 2026. Parents/guardians, teachers, students, and anyone else with direct knowledge of a student’s abilities may refer a student for highly capable services.

In addition to referrals, universal screener results will also be considered. Our district utilizes the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessment in grades K – 8 as a universal screener.

For more information on the Highly Capable Program, the program referral process, or to find referral resources please follow the link below. The Referral Form link below will be live on March 10.

To request a written translation of this notice in another language, please contact the Instructional Programs Office at (509)332-3144.

On Friday, January 16, Pullman School District staff came together for a day of professional learning focused on strengthening our understanding of Native American history, culture, and educational practices. The district was honored to partner with the Nez Perce Tribe Education Department, led by Joyce McFarland, whose team guided staff through a day of learning rooted in respect, authenticity, and culturally responsive teaching.

Throughout the day, educators participated in a variety of interactive sessions designed to deepen their understanding of tribal sovereignty, treaties, language, culture, and the long-standing relationship between Indigenous communities and the lands we share. Topics included Nez Perce language and legends, tribal consultation and the “Since Time Immemorial” curriculum, fisheries and environmental stewardship, American Indian law and policy, and culturally relevant services for Native students with special needs.

By engaging in multiple breakout sessions, staff were able to tailor their learning to their roles and interests, gaining practical strategies for bringing culturally relevant and inclusive practices into classrooms and support services across the district.

This professional learning experience supports our commitment to serving every student with respect, understanding, and high expectations, and to building stronger connections with Tribal partners and Native families. We are grateful to the Nez Perce Education Department for sharing their knowledge and leadership.

Families with students not currently enrolled that would like to enroll with PSD for the 2026-2027 school year, can submit an enrollment application online starting February 2, 2026. Translated paper copies of the enrollment application will be available. If your child is already enrolled in one of our schools, there is NO need to complete the enrollment process again. 

Visit our website for more information about enrolling your student in Pullman School District at the link below.

On January 16, Pullman School District staff participated in a meaningful day of professional learning in partnership with the Nez Perce Tribe Education Department, led by Joyce McFarland. Through engaging and interactive sessions, educators deepened their understanding of Nez Perce history, culture, language, and educational practices, including tribal sovereignty, treaties, environmental stewardship, and culturally responsive teaching.

This partnership supports our commitment to building respectful relationships with Tribal partners and strengthening inclusive practices that better serve Native students and families across our district.

We welcome all interested applicants and are committed to hiring the most highly qualified and professional teaching and support staff to serve the students of Pullman. 

 

To submit an employment application, click the button below.

For more information about employment with Pullman School District, please visit our website at: https://www.pullmanschools.org/human-resources

​If you or anyone you know would be interested in subbing for Pullman Schools as a:

Please apply for these positions online at: 

If you or anyone you know would be interested in subbing for Pullman Schools as a:

Please pick up an application at the District Office (240 SE Dexter St).

Questions about employment with Pullman School District?

Contact: Dagny Myers

Phone: (509) 332-3581 | Email: dmyers@psd267.org

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