Between the state Senate’s passage of school-safety and construction proposals, public hearings in the Senate budget committee on two education-improvement bills and visits from Redmond-based students, the focus on education in recent weeks is just what Sen. Andy Hill of Redmond had in mind for the 2013 legislative session.

On Feb. 11, the Senate passed legislation that would require school districts to add alarm systems connected directly with law enforcement and added safety-related design requirements when constructing or remodeling schools. It also authorized the sale of $475 million in bonds to fund the School Construction Assistance Program in the state’s next two-year budget cycle. That program provides funding for new buildings and upgrades.

“This is an important first step towards making our schools safer,” said Hill (45th District). “I’m looking forward to making progress inside the classroom, by increasing the ‘outputs’ of our state’s education system. As I continue crafting the new state budget, I am focused on making sure not only that K-12 education is amply provided for, but that we have strong early-learning programs and an accessible higher-education system.”

Hill was also pleased to visit with more than 90 fourth- and fifth-graders from Explorer Community School and Sunrise Elementary in Redmond who were in Olympia for a tour of the state Capitol.

“It’s always a nice to have visitors from our community and especially fun to talk to students because it reminds me who I’m working on behalf of here in the Legislature.”

On Feb. 12, the Senate budget committee, of which Hill is the chairman, reviewed two proposals aimed at improving school suspension and expulsion policies and emphasizing and supporting students’ reading abilities before fourth grade.