Published: Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Lake Stevens teachers on countdown to strike
Negotiations to avert strike continue; pay, class size among sticking points
The first day of school in Lake Stevens is less than a week away, but unless teachers and school officials agree on a contract, there will be no back-to-school for more than 7,000 students.
Teacher contracts expired on Monday, and Lake Stevens teachers have decided not to return to the classroom until they have a new contract. The first day of school is scheduled for Tuesday.
Lake Stevens teachers and administrators continued negotiations Tuesday, as tensions built during negotiations in districts in Kent and Sedro-Woolley.
A final bargaining session between Sedro-Woolley teachers and administrators was planned for Tuesday night. If they didn't agree on a contract, the teachers vowed they'd strike today, which was supposed to be their first day of school.
Teachers in Kent went on strike Monday, and on Tuesday, school district leaders filed a lawsuit against the teachers, seeking an injunction to order them back to class while negotiations continue.
If Lake Stevens teachers end up on strike, a state mediator would likely be brought in to try to resolve the dispute. If the mediator isn't successful, the school board may opt to file for an injunction to force teachers back into the classroom.
School board president Mari Taylor said she hasn't discussed the issue with the other board members, and isn't comfortable talking about the possibility of an injunction without consulting them.
“I couldn't comment on it because we haven't gone there — and with any luck at all we won't have to consider it,” she said.
During a teachers strike in 1998, the Lake Stevens School Board sought an injunction, but a breakthrough in negotiations two days later ended the strike before a judge ruled on the issue.
Lake Stevens teachers are boycotting open houses and other school-sponsored events until an agreement is reached.
“Another school year will eventually begin, and we just hope we can start a school year as soon as possible and that the school board brings forth a proposal that will be respectful and fair to all of its employees,” said Kelly Snow, president of the Lake Stevens Education Association.
Union and Lake Stevens School District leaders are planning to continue negotiations today.
Classes in Lake Stevens are scheduled to begin Tuesday although the exact date is still part of negotiations.
Despite the possibility of a strike, many teachers are going ahead and setting up their classrooms. Teachers don't get paid to prepare their rooms for school.
The district will send out an automated voice mail message to parents as soon as a contract is reached and plans for the start of school are finalized, said Arlene Hulten, the Lake Stevens School District spokeswoman.
In the meantime, open houses and other events will continue as scheduled at Lake Stevens schools. Administrators and other staff will host these events, even if teachers opt not to attend, Hulten said.
“We've made great progress in so many areas and we've had great collaboration and we remain confident and hopeful that we will get this finished this week,” she said.
School and union leaders have been meeting since May and have reached consensus on dozens of items, but can't agree on several money-related issues, including pay, class size and planning time. The district employs more than 400 teachers.
Lake Stevens teachers are among the lowest paid in Snohomish County, with a starting salary of around $39,533. That includes state money and $5,107 a year from the district. Teachers with the most experience and education earn $77,355, which includes $12,468 from the district. Only the Granite Falls School District pays its teachers less, Snow said.
“It's not all about the money; it is about students and class sizes and everyday working conditions,” Snow said. “Lake Stevens teachers just want to be treated fairly, and we don't want to fall farther and farther behind other districts that are making gains in their contracts. Even with the economy as it is, they are making gains.”
Though Lake Stevens teachers don't earn as much as their peers in other parts of Snohomish County, their salaries rank in the top 10 percent of teacher salaries statewide, Hulten said.
“We believe our teachers need more money,” she said. “There's no doubt about that, but there's also a limit to what we're able to provide, given what we get from the state and what we get from our community in terms of levy dollars.”
Lake Stevens teachers are scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the negotiations. If a contract isn't reached by Sept. 8, the teachers will be on strike, Snow said. They voted last week not to work without a contract, and though the motion didn't use the word “strike,” Snow said that will be the result if a contract isn't reached.
Granite Falls School District teachers reported to school for the first day of classes Tuesday without a contract.
District administrators offered their gratitude on the district's Web site.
The message read: “A special thank you goes out to the Granite Falls Education Association leadership team and the entire membership for continuing negotiations without the threat of a strike. The district applauds the teachers for working without a contract while talks continue. The next bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 10, and the district is optimistic that the remaining issues can be resolved at that time.”
Everett teachers are scheduled to vote on a new contract today. A tentative agreement was reached after two long bargaining sessions Thursday and Friday.
Both sides agreed not to discuss details of the agreement until teachers have a chance to review the proposal. School for more than 18,000 students in Everett is not scheduled to begin until Sept. 9.
Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com.
Teacher contracts expired on Monday, and Lake Stevens teachers have decided not to return to the classroom until they have a new contract. The first day of school is scheduled for Tuesday.
Lake Stevens teachers and administrators continued negotiations Tuesday, as tensions built during negotiations in districts in Kent and Sedro-Woolley.
A final bargaining session between Sedro-Woolley teachers and administrators was planned for Tuesday night. If they didn't agree on a contract, the teachers vowed they'd strike today, which was supposed to be their first day of school.
Teachers in Kent went on strike Monday, and on Tuesday, school district leaders filed a lawsuit against the teachers, seeking an injunction to order them back to class while negotiations continue.
If Lake Stevens teachers end up on strike, a state mediator would likely be brought in to try to resolve the dispute. If the mediator isn't successful, the school board may opt to file for an injunction to force teachers back into the classroom.
School board president Mari Taylor said she hasn't discussed the issue with the other board members, and isn't comfortable talking about the possibility of an injunction without consulting them.
“I couldn't comment on it because we haven't gone there — and with any luck at all we won't have to consider it,” she said.
During a teachers strike in 1998, the Lake Stevens School Board sought an injunction, but a breakthrough in negotiations two days later ended the strike before a judge ruled on the issue.
Lake Stevens teachers are boycotting open houses and other school-sponsored events until an agreement is reached.
“Another school year will eventually begin, and we just hope we can start a school year as soon as possible and that the school board brings forth a proposal that will be respectful and fair to all of its employees,” said Kelly Snow, president of the Lake Stevens Education Association.
Union and Lake Stevens School District leaders are planning to continue negotiations today.
Classes in Lake Stevens are scheduled to begin Tuesday although the exact date is still part of negotiations.
Despite the possibility of a strike, many teachers are going ahead and setting up their classrooms. Teachers don't get paid to prepare their rooms for school.
The district will send out an automated voice mail message to parents as soon as a contract is reached and plans for the start of school are finalized, said Arlene Hulten, the Lake Stevens School District spokeswoman.
In the meantime, open houses and other events will continue as scheduled at Lake Stevens schools. Administrators and other staff will host these events, even if teachers opt not to attend, Hulten said.
“We've made great progress in so many areas and we've had great collaboration and we remain confident and hopeful that we will get this finished this week,” she said.
School and union leaders have been meeting since May and have reached consensus on dozens of items, but can't agree on several money-related issues, including pay, class size and planning time. The district employs more than 400 teachers.
Lake Stevens teachers are among the lowest paid in Snohomish County, with a starting salary of around $39,533. That includes state money and $5,107 a year from the district. Teachers with the most experience and education earn $77,355, which includes $12,468 from the district. Only the Granite Falls School District pays its teachers less, Snow said.
“It's not all about the money; it is about students and class sizes and everyday working conditions,” Snow said. “Lake Stevens teachers just want to be treated fairly, and we don't want to fall farther and farther behind other districts that are making gains in their contracts. Even with the economy as it is, they are making gains.”
Though Lake Stevens teachers don't earn as much as their peers in other parts of Snohomish County, their salaries rank in the top 10 percent of teacher salaries statewide, Hulten said.
“We believe our teachers need more money,” she said. “There's no doubt about that, but there's also a limit to what we're able to provide, given what we get from the state and what we get from our community in terms of levy dollars.”
Lake Stevens teachers are scheduled to meet on Thursday to discuss the negotiations. If a contract isn't reached by Sept. 8, the teachers will be on strike, Snow said. They voted last week not to work without a contract, and though the motion didn't use the word “strike,” Snow said that will be the result if a contract isn't reached.
Granite Falls School District teachers reported to school for the first day of classes Tuesday without a contract.
District administrators offered their gratitude on the district's Web site.
The message read: “A special thank you goes out to the Granite Falls Education Association leadership team and the entire membership for continuing negotiations without the threat of a strike. The district applauds the teachers for working without a contract while talks continue. The next bargaining session is scheduled for Sept. 10, and the district is optimistic that the remaining issues can be resolved at that time.”
Everett teachers are scheduled to vote on a new contract today. A tentative agreement was reached after two long bargaining sessions Thursday and Friday.
Both sides agreed not to discuss details of the agreement until teachers have a chance to review the proposal. School for more than 18,000 students in Everett is not scheduled to begin until Sept. 9.
Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292, kmanry@heraldnet.com.
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