Whittier WildChat Special Edition

Whittier WildChat

August 29, 2018

We show respect. We make good choices. We solve our problems.

It's what Wildcats do.

A Note from the Whittier PTA Co-Presidents

Dear Whittier families,

As you may have seen, Seattle teachers and staff voted in a membership meeting Tuesday night (August 28) to authorize a strike if they are not able to reach agreement on a tentative contract by the first day of school, next Wednesday, September 5. You may have noticed Whittier staff gathering in front of the school today during Fill Us In; they will gather again tomorrow, August 30, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m in a show of unity with their fellow teachers.

We know many families have questions about the contract negotiations between the Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS). See below for an update from the Seattle Council PTSA ( SCPTSA ), which may provide some context.

The Washington State PTA provides guidance to local PTAs regarding their efforts during work stoppages. Generally, PTAs can play a supportive role to families by understanding and communicating about the issues. While the issues at play during the current negotiations are complex, the Whittier PTA will do its best to provide information and resources to families at our school.

Thank you,

Amy Bryan and Kate Mathews

Whittier PTA Co-Presidents

Message from SCPTSA:

This year, the Washington State Legislature was forced by the state supreme court to add state money to budgets for educator salaries as part of the McCleary lawsuit for education funding. Districts all over the state are figuring out what that means for them as new contracts are being negotiated with the potential for significant increases in compensation.

Here in Seattle, scheduled negotiations between SEA and SPS ended Saturday (8/25) without a tentative agreement. The main contract issues are compensation, counselors at every school, healthcare for subs, race and equity teams, and special education caseloads. The possibility of significant raises are complicated by the fact that the state legislature lowered the amount of money SPS can raise from local levies from 37 percent to 24 percent of its budget in the coming years. SEA is also unique in that they bargain for certificated educators and classified and office staff together. Other district EAs bargain only for a contract for certificated staff, so large percentage raises in other districts being discussed in the media don’t necessarily include all educators.

The stated goal of SPS is to have competitive, sustainable salaries for educators, while confronting the realities of revenue shortfall in 2019-20 when, assuming the Seattle Schools Levy passes, the legislature’s new cap on local dollars will go into effect.

The SEA Rep Assembly unanimously recommended to their SEA General Membership on Sunday to authorize a strike if a tentative agreement is not reached by start of school on Sept 5. SEA General membership will convene and vote on this recommendation tonight, August 28th, at Benaroya Hall at 5pm. Strike authorization doesn’t automatically mean a strike will happen; it means that the general membership is authorizing the bargaining team to declare a strike if a tentative agreement isn’t reached. SEA and SPS are scheduled to resume bargaining tomorrow (Wednesday).