Followup: Union’s role in West Seattle HS schedule change

Our cameraphone photo shows the end of the student demonstration along California SW Friday morning by West Seattle High School, where an upcoming schedule change has sparked some controversy. We first heard of it in this article from the new edition of the student newspaper The Chinook; then we got a text about the protest, which was ending just as we arrived. After reading and republishing (with permission) the schedule-change story, we sought out further comment from the union whose action was described as having sparked the change, Operating Engineers Local 609. Their business manager, David Westberg, returned our call Friday afternoon – here’s what he told us:

“The law has been interpreted by the Public Employment Relations Commission … to say that when changes are made in meal periods that affect employees such as (those) who serve meals in the kitchen … those changes are supposed to be negotiated with a representative of those employees,” Westberg said. “This year, when the ‘second breakfast’ was drastically reduced from 15 minutes down to 5 minutes, it was very apparent that the 200 kids who had a second breakfast and kind of liked it … would lose out and wouldn’t buy meals there any longer, so we objected. We had a charge already on the books against the district for the proposed elimination of one of the lunch periods at Cleveland High School, so we added this unilateral dimunition of the second breakfast without notice and discussion … and the district asked us if we would be interested in discussing those charges.”

When they sat down to talk with school and district reps, Westberg says, “The principal (Ruth Medsker) felt very strongly that there needed to be a second lunch period, because the lunchroom was an absolute madhouse during the single lunch period, kids would be leaving campus and going down to the business district and (possibly getting into trouble). … She provided a rationale to having a second lunch period so more kids might stay on campus … So we said, all right, if you will have a second lunch period, we’d be willing to go along with elimination or reduction of ‘second breakfast, it’s a good idea, well-thought-out, we took her up on it, made a settlement and signed it (last Tuesday). It’s better all around, I think, for everyone, especially the kids.”

Westberg, by the way, identifies himself as a school district employee in his 33rd year.

(As a side note, he said they’re still working on the Cleveland High School situation, in which he says the principal is seeking one lunch period but Cleveland has 900 students and a lunchroom holding 113.)

marty November 20, 2010 (9:35 am)

I like how he said “It’s better all around, I think, for everyone, especially the kids.” Did anyone even bother to ask the kids??

Rachel November 20, 2010 (9:36 am)

It’s nice to see some high school kids trying to make a stand! I was at the school recently for parent orientation and the size of the lunchroom is so small it’s ridiculous. I have another student at Lafayette Elem. and their lunchroom is twice the size. I’m not sure what they were thinking when they remodeled…

Gina November 20, 2010 (10:04 am)

If you look at the lines at McDonalds and the PCC and at the Admiral 7-11 during WSHS lunch periods, they sure aren’t eating at the school.

Mike November 20, 2010 (10:30 am)

More student lunch breaks equals shorter lines. Shorter lines means more kids will stay on campus and cannot get into or cause trouble in the neighborhood.

JanS November 20, 2010 (10:41 am)

So, what Principal Metzger said about HAVING to change the schedule because of a union dispute is technically right, but not really? She made it sound like she was forced to do it, that her “hands were tied”, and that seems to be not the case at all. In all things I respect honesty, especially from people in control of things, and it seems to be a little lacking here..but that’s just my opinion.

Kids have left campus at lunch for years…nothing new. When Safeway was there, did you ever try to shop at lunchtime? Not a good idea. I’ve always wondered why WSHS didn’t have staggered lunches…now they do…but what a process. Decision should have been made at the beginning of the year or left until next year.

flannery dennison November 20, 2010 (6:09 pm)

This is absurd but it really gives me perspective.I am a student at WSHS and I was at the protest and this is the most information I have heard on the subject, an obvious notification that the administration is not communicating with the student body. Why can we not wait until next year? I actually do things during second breakfast, such as talk to teachers. She just does not care what we think and I care about my school and I am SICK of decisions being made without any of my input.

CMD November 20, 2010 (6:18 pm)

The plan of the WSH administration to change the lunch schedule is based on a big faulty assumption. If Principle Metzger thinks that having a second lunch period will result in more kids staying on campus she is mistaken. The kids leave campus for better food choices and a break. They will continue to leave. Of course it does not take a genius to see that her real goal is to close campus and not let the kids leave school property. If this is her goal, she should come out and say so, not hide behind a false premise. So far the new administration has shown zero leadership and management skills. They do not have the support of the teachers and they have alienated the the student body. They are in over their heads. On a related note, has anyone considered the dozens of junction businesses who will be in jeopardy if they lose the student lunch crowd?

MB November 21, 2010 (12:16 pm)

Good for them. I am happy to see teenagers passionate about anything! We held a sit in at Sealth my senior year and our voice was heard, we didn’t give them a choice. Too often the critical thinking and opinions of teenagers are underestimated. Engage them in a conversation for a change and maybe you’d find there’s more going on in there than just texting…

Sara November 21, 2010 (9:55 pm)

The principal and the lunch staff are right. Small cafeteria means you HAVE to have multiple lunch periods if you want people to be able to eat on campus.
And what is it with this “second breakfast” and the breaks they have to “get a hot cookie”!? What about being in the classroom? Sounds ridiculous to me. Most schools do not have those breaks.
p.s. When kids say “Oh, I go see teachers during my break,” it means that break is a joke. A few kids might get tutoring, yes; but the majority of the kids are goofing off, wandering around campus and the school. The kids who would get tutoring can stop by before/after school.

WHSH Parent November 22, 2010 (2:35 am)

I have a freshman at WSHS. He apparently participated in this nonsense and now has two unexcused absences to show for it. All I can say is – get your butt back to class!

It seems to me that what Ms. Medsker has found is a silly schedule that included an impossible to use “second breakfast” and one, school wide, Lunch.

Now, you kids get to go to school later and you’ll have a much less crowded lunch room. Instead of spending all of your lunch standing in line, you might actually be able to spend it eating. Why the last administration didn’t figure this out when planning this year’s schedule is beyond me.

cmd November 22, 2010 (11:35 am)

Did anyone read the entire article? What most of the complaints are about is the way she has made decision behind closed doors and then given bogus reasons for her actions. For instance, Metzger has made it impossible for anyone with an after school job or sport to be in a school club. Lunch was the only time for most of these clubs could meet. Maybe people do not realize that because of Seattles previous school assignment policy, a large percentage of students commute from other parts of town, frequently catching a city bus in the dark at 6:45am, with another 90 minute commute home at the end of the day. Second breakfast and 1 lunch break, made the schedule workable.

Sara November 22, 2010 (6:32 pm)

@cmd: Yes, we did read the entire article. Why don’t you get that MOST schools don’t operate on a one 50-minute lunch period?? And yet THEY have no problem fitting in clubs.
If you want to be in a club, you make a sacrifice and go after school. Simple as that. If the bus doesn’t come later (which it does), then get a ride from someone in said club.
I don’t’ know why the kids are making such a big stink. It’s not like she said you have to go to school at 7:30am, like MOST districts in our state!!
Of course she made this decision without conferring with the students. She knew what you would whine about — “Oh, we can’t have lunch with our friends!! You mean I have to stay after school to be an ASB officer??” The principal did the right thing not to take your opinions and then still turn them down; it was a good decision for the community and your school. Suck it up.

jill November 28, 2010 (12:24 am)

I go to WSHS. and this is what i and alot of other kids have to say because clearly we arent being represented by our new principal. the new principal and two vice principals came to this school year with big, multiple changes. last year the administration was alot more chill and gave us a say in everything. all the administration from last year were people who related to us and made school fun, always reconozing we were west side and different from any other school. When they all left it sucked because they cared about us and were all close. Now this year the new administration came in on a power trip changing everything. When the school year started we had these three new administrators and new sequrity. The principal and vice principals automatically laid down new rules and said things were going to be very different. Now does that sound like a starting off with a good start? I dont think so. Even the teachers say they like the old administrators alooot better. They are ALOT more stricter than the previous administrators by far. Kids were getting suspended for things that were silly. For example, kids were getting disciplined for having their phones out at lunch, im sorry isnt that their time to relax with their friends and text people? Now theryre putting this new change out with splitting up the grades for lunch. I thought kids were supposed to come together and be friends, not split them up. And when we had our strike we still were NOT HEARD! She said there was nothing she could do but yet she was the one who did everything, MESS UP WEST SEATTLE. If they wanted to make a positive change our school day should be like this: school starting at 8:15 like last year, and ending at 2:30. Keeping our second breakfast and having one lunch. But no. She said this is the schedule all the other schools have. But isnt west side the best side? Thats how it used to be. Maybe us kids should make a change and get better administration who know how to involve the people who attend and work at West Seattle High.