Teachers unions cut spending on charter fight

Eight years ago, teachers statewide went all out to keep Washington’s ban on charter schools in place.

Their statewide union, the Washington Education Association, its parent, the National Education Association, and the local councils collectively poured close to $1.3 million into the campaign to repeal a law allowing publicly funded, privately managed schools.

And teachers succeeded. No seeds for such schools got planted.

This year is a different story, a much different story.

Another charter school measure is on the ballot and the WEA is opposing it.

But its $100,000 contribution to the opposition campaign is only a fraction of what it spent in the battle in 2004. Moreover the NEA and the union locals haven’t given a dime to the political committee WEA formed to fight Initiative 1240.

Union President Mary Lindquist on Wednesday insisted they are not throwing in the towel. Nor, she said, are its member teachers any less passionate than before in their dislike of the nontraditional schools run by private nonprofits with public money.

“We’re going to be working with the ‘No on 1240’ campaign in all of our locals and in communities across the state to let voters know that this is the wrong direction for our state,” she said.

But teachers face a challenging landscape this election cycle and not everything the union wants to accomplish is possible.

They’ve had to set priorities like every other interest group. Looking at where the WEA spends its money, it’s pretty clear what those priorities are: It wants union-friendly candidates elected to run Washington more than keeping charter schools from planting flags on state soil.

There are obvious reasons. The new governor will set a tone and a direction for reforming education for four and maybe eight years. That person along with the next Legislature will be making sweeping decisions in 2013 on huge matters with long-term consequences for teachers such as how schools are funded and how they are evaluated and paid.

Electing Democrat Jay Inslee as governor is the top priority. Already the WEA and NEA have invested $1.15 million into Our Washington, a political committee conducting an independent campaign against Republican Rob McKenna. The union disagrees with McKenna’s agenda for reforming education and is convinced the GOP candidate is out to silence its voice in the process.

The WEA also wants to ensure state Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe, D-Bothell, is re-elected in the 1st Legislative District. She is chairwoman of the Senate education committee and has been a solid defender of WEA interests.

She faced two opponents in the primary, a Democrat and a Republican, both of whom criticized her ties to the WEA. It was a tough primary — she won — and the union invested nearly $47,000 of its own treasury in mailers and commercials supporting her; that’s roughly half of its donation to the charter school battle.

While those aren’t the only races of importance, they may be the most critical.

Union members figure if they lose them both they may have much bigger worries to deal with in the coming years than what might sprout from the seeding of charter schools.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

The second floor of the Lynnwood Crisis Center on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Funding gap leaves Lynnwood without a crisis center provider

The idea for the Lynnwood crisis center began in 2021 after a 47-year-old died by suicide while in custody at Lynnwood Municipal Jail.

Three seriously injured after head-on collision on Highway 522

The crash between Monroe and Maltby happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.

Fernando Espinoza salts the sidewalk along Fifth Avenue South on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Think this is cold, Snohomish County? Wait until Tuesday

Tuesday could bring dangerous wind chill during the day and an overnight low of 19 degrees

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

Devani Padron, left, Daisy Ramos perform during dance class at Mari's Place Monday afternoon in Everett on July 13, 2016. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Mari’s Place helps children build confidence and design a better future

The Everett-based nonprofit offers free and low-cost classes in art, music, theater and dance for children ages 5 to 14.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

The Washington State Department of Licensing office is seen in 2018 in Seattle. (Sue Misao / The Herald)
Drivers licensing offices to close Feb. 14-17

Online services are also not available Feb. 10-17. The Washington State Department of Licensing said the move is necessary to upgrade software.

Pharmacist Nisha Mathew prepares a Pfizer COVID booster shot for a patient at Bartell Drugs on Broadway on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett lawmakers back universal health care bill, introduced in Olympia

Proponents say providing health care for all is a “fundamental human right.” Opponents worry about the cost of implementing it.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.