LANGLEY — Tuesday’s scheduled first day of classes in the South Whidbey School District is in doubt after teachers voted to strike for a better contract.
The teachers union and district administration met Thursday and were to bargain again Friday to try to iron out a pact. Union officials said salary, benefits and class size are sticking points.
Eighty-six of the districts 90 teachers and certificated support staff carried pickets Thursday morning. Members of the union approved the strike by a 97 percent margin at a general membership meeting Wednesday night.
Both sides said they are willing to negotiate through the holiday weekend.
“South Whidbey pretty much keeps falling behind everyone around us,” said Jessica Upton, a union spokeswoman. “They are not asking for anything pie in the sky.”
School district Superintendent Jo Moccia said Thursday she is hopeful the two sides can reach an agreement quickly and that school will start as planned on Tuesday. Regardless, extracurricular events, including fall sports, will not be affected.
“We are not going to penalize children,” Moccia said.
The superintendent said teacher compensation is the district’s biggest challenge. It doesn’t have the same resources as many other districts.
“Really no two districts are alike,” she said. “It is hard to compare.”
South Whidbey schools have lost hundreds of students over the last several years with fewer young families in the area.
Elsewhere, Pasco teachers went on strike Tuesday. Spokane teachers are expected to begin a strike Friday if no agreement is reached and Seattle teachers were scheduled to take a strike vote on Thursday.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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