STRIKE CONTINUES FRIDAY: Updates, including service projects and ‘Alki Beach Read-In’

(MORE SERVICE PROJECTS ADDED to list Friday morning – thanks for sending – editor@westseattleblog.com)

To recap the toplines after 2 days of the Seattle Education Association strike:

*No school Friday

*No new negotiations so far; each side met today with mediators. Seattle Public Schools held a short media briefing at 5 pm; we published immediate toplines in our earlier coverage as well as our social-media channels (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), and also recorded it on video:

Our earlier coverage also includes union comments – while the district says the union “has not responded” to its 5:15 pm Tuesday offer, the union says it was essentially not a new offer so its response was to announce the strike.

*No picketing tomorrow – teachers plan to spend the morning on service projects (it’s National Day of Service) and then there’s at least one afternoon activity.

(Gatewood educators who worked at a Morgan Junction park on Thursday – photo courtesy Barry White)

Students and families are welcome, we’re told, to join in any and all of these:

COMBINED SCHOOL SERVICE PROJECT: DENNY INTERNATIONAL MIDDLE SCHOOL & CHIEF SEALTH INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Instead of picketing tomorrow, the above mentioned striking teachers, staff & parents will be participating in a combined service project along the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail. Blackberry removal will begin at 8:30 at the Thistle P-Patch, and going further in along the trail.

There will also be a Read-In along Thistle St. working in shifts, and then reading.

At 11:30 we will do a trash pickup, while walking along several different routes to Castle Park. A BBQ will be held there at 12:00. All are welcome to join.

If people want to join or support, it would be fantastic. We will need leather gloves, pointed shovels, loppers, hand pruners, tarps. Any drop
offs of breakfast food, while we are at the Longfellow Creek P Patch, would be appreciated. At Castle Rock we will be BBQing so any potluck style foods would be great at that time. We plan to converge with the folks from Roxhill Elementary there at 12 noon.

To sum up:

8:30 am Blackberry removal, Thistle P-Patch.
11:30 Trash cleanup as walking to Castle Park, to meet Roxhill supporters.
12:00 Barbecue at Castle Park for support and fellowship.

What is needed?

1. The YMCA’s earth service corps will be bringing tools for about 40 people, we could definitely use more gloves, loppers, pointy shovels,
pitchforks, yard waste bags

2. Breakfast Items for the morning clean up at the Thistle P-Patch, beginning around 8:00am

3. Potluck lunch items at Castle Park for barbecue lunch beginning around 12:00

Thank you for your support, West Seattle! (Facebook link here)

FROM ROXHILL ELEMENTARY (mentioned above)

Roxhill Elementary Staff voted to spend their Day of Service at Roxhill Park. They will be picking up trash and removing invasive species as park of the larger efforts of Denny and Sealth to clean the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail.

They will be out in the park starting at 8:30 am and they are welcoming students and caregivers to join them.

FROM FAIRMOUNT PARK ELEMENTARY:

We are trying to get word out to West Seattle educators, families, and community supporters who would like to join us for our service project tomorrow morning. Meet at “Anchor Park” at the Duwamish Head at 8:30 am. Garbage bags will be provided. Wear red, wear gloves.

The International Coastal Cleanup is the world’s largest volunteer effort on behalf of our oceans, lakes and rivers—a massive display of teamwork that removes millions of pounds of plastic and other trash from shorelines and water bodies around the globe. Pick up litter and record what you find to be added to the Global Trash Index while on strike Friday, September 11th.

FROM ALKI ELEMENTARY: Cleanup on Alki Beach (multiple schools participating), 8:30-10:30 am, area students/families welcome. Meet at Alki Statue of Liberty.

CONCORD INTERNATIONAL: Their service project is at South Park’s Marra Farm.

HIGHLAND PARK ELEMENTARY: They’ll be working at the Salvation Army facility in White Center.

(added) WEST SEATTLE HIGH SCHOOL: Participating in the Alki cleanup (meet at Statue of Liberty, 8:30 am) and also cleaning up along California SW in front of Hiawatha/WSHS and on the east side of the street, also starting at 8:30 am, community welcome to join in either/both.

(added) LOUISA BOREN STEM K-8: Delridge/Myrtle “bucket brigade” – details here.

(added) LAFAYETTE ELEMENTARY: As shared by the West Seattle Food Bank:

Lafayette Elementary School teachers are having a food drive for the West Seattle Food Bank at Lafayette school at 2645 California Ave. SW in the Admiral District. The food drive will be from 9 am to 12 noon today, Friday, 9/11 and they want to receive donations for our Backpack Program which provides healthy weekend meals to school children from 8 West Seattle schools at risk of hunger over the weekend. Items needed are individual servings of shelf stable milk (cow, soy or almond), boxed or caned juices, individual meals in one like soups, mac n’ cheese, ravioli, cup of noodles/top ramen, applesauce/fruit cups and peanut butter or tuna snack packs. Please stop by and support the teachers and your school children in need.

THEN ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON … The Alki Beach Read-In, 12:30-3 pm, full details published here late last night.

Something to add for tomorrow? editor@westseattleblog.com or post info in comments and we’ll add it to the list too

25 Replies to "STRIKE CONTINUES FRIDAY: Updates, including service projects and 'Alki Beach Read-In'"

  • Lesley McQuarrie September 10, 2015 (10:27 pm)

    Concord International (in South Park) parents and students will be holding the line at the school tomorrow 9-2 while the teachers honor their day of community service in honor of 9/11 at Marra Farm. We’ll try to make it fun for the kids with chalk and whatnot, while teaching them the importance of fighting for what is fair. We’ll all wear red in solidarity.

  • Tl September 10, 2015 (11:01 pm)

    Thanks so much for concord update! We will do our best to join!

  • Marie September 10, 2015 (11:41 pm)

    Please Sps and teachers come to an agreement so our kids can get back to the classroom.

  • Alberto M. September 11, 2015 (5:54 am)

    SPS is locking out some of the SAEOP (office staff, etc.) bargaining unit members starting this (9/11) afternoon. SAEOP employees were not on strike.

  • Trent September 11, 2015 (5:56 am)

    Hi folks, I am a 3rd-grade teacher in Seattle and I’d like to clarify something that is widely and consistently misinterpreted. TEACHERS ARE ONLY GETTING A RAISE ON BASE SALARY, WHICH IS 76% OF THEIR TOTAL INCOME. TRI PAY MAKES UP THE OTHER 24%. Beginning Base Salary in SPS is $34,048, (Feel free to Google 2014-15 salary schedule Seattle Public Schools and guess what, the whole thing pops right up). Teachers are paid in two different ways and both contribute to total income. We are paid with a Base Salary and something called TRI. Whatever raise we get will only effect 76% of our total income. BASE SALARY IS NOT $44,372 AS IS WRONGLY AND CONSISTENTLY REPORTED IN EVERY STORY ON THE ISSUE. It’s quite amazing that every news channel omits this. Of course, the district has been excellent in glossing over this fact by throwing out numbers like a “14% increase over three years”. The district has been willfully misleading. I’m also a parent of a 4th-grader so I get all the updates. Here’s the math, this includes COLA and taxes for a married guy with two kids…this is what I will see in my pocket “cash-wise”. The district’s current offer will give me an increase of $107/month for the first two years, and then -$21 the 3rd year, meaning, the 3rd year of this contract I will take a pay cut. Great, just what I went $60,000 in student-loan debt for to get this job! Instead of getting my once-a-month check of $3,152 after taxes, I’ll get $3,259…I think I’ll go buy that new car now! Yay me! SEA’s current proposal gives me an extra $193/month the first year, and $167/month for years two and three…I think I’ll go buy that new car now! Oh wait, I still can’t buy that new car. Lucky I still have my trusty old Toyota. I’ve read quite a few comments from people referring to “greedy teachers” and I just assume that those comments come from people who can’t do math, someone that probably had lazy and greedy teachers their whole schooling that never taught them about percents, division, and multiplication. Yay you! Thanks for supporting students who continue to get the shaft by ignorant adults that want to continue to impose “college and career readiness” on every single mind and soul walking through a public school building. How about some life readiness? How about teaching kids how to turn a screwdriver, or how a combustion engine works, chemistry, art, how the sun works, why we have seasons, (no it’s not because we get closer and further from the sun). Oh no, there’s no time to learn anything fun. When’s that test again? We gotta get ready! I’d be happy to answer any and all questions for those of you that have them, especially from those of you who think this is a “cush job”. I mean, I guess teaching in a school where 80% of students are on free/reduced lunch and one-third are ELL could be considered cush. Probably a little cushier than underwater welding, or carpet-installing, which is what I did for 20 years before spending tens of thousands of dollars to get a job that I totally like so I can hear people tell me I’m greedy. Anyone, anyone? (Did I mention that rent in Seattle for my family and I just went up from $1,400 to $1,550, which is a 10% increase in my cost of living. What’s COLA again? 3% first year and 1.8% in the second and third years? That should make up for my rent increase, right?) This teacher’s gettin’ rich over here…Beware!

  • Orca September 11, 2015 (6:29 am)

    I am a bit confused about the amount of raise the teachers union is asking for.
    If the current salary is $60,000. Per year (is that close?)

    Then the 18% + COL would be about 20%.

    This would be an raise of $1,000. Per month
    Wow….that would be hard to believe for most of us.

    Where am I wrong?

  • DP September 11, 2015 (7:41 am)

    Just saw a somewhat refreshing update about the strike on Q13 where their political/legal expert actually shunned salary discussion, and instead discussed two non-salary sticking points; high-stakes testing and teacher evaluations based on student scores of these tests. The optimist in me would like to believe that local media is finally listening to the fact that teachers have a lot of support in our community, and this strike is not all about money.

  • Cecelia September 11, 2015 (7:43 am)

    Pathfinder K-8 teachers will be cleaning up the stairways near Pathfinder in the morning and joining in the Alki Beach Read-In in the afternoon.

    The teachers have asked that NO kids help with the cleanup because of the steep nature of the stairs and the high likely hood of biohazard type trash. I’m sure if there are any adults that would like to join in they would welcome the help.

  • Philip Lund September 11, 2015 (7:45 am)

    Why aren’t teachers allowed to opt out of Union? That would save them $1000 each per year in dues payments. I think a lot of teachers despise the WEA, but there is no demcracy allowed. They are forced to support them financially.

  • Orca September 11, 2015 (7:48 am)

    Thank you for clearing up the confusion.

    The $60,000. Example was on the local news earlier.
    They seem sympathic with the teachers and I am surprised they would be so far off from the post above.

  • Mike September 11, 2015 (8:07 am)

    Trent, the easier path for people to see what teachers (and every other district employee) is here: http://data.spokesman.com/salaries/schools/2015/92-seattle-public-schools/employees/
    .
    If you search your own name, you’ll find you, unless you’re on a federal protection program.
    .
    If you find that the numbers don’t match up, you should contact the IRS as they’re taxing you on that amount.

  • Kim September 11, 2015 (8:16 am)

    Trent,
    As both a teacher and a parent, I thank you for getting this message out with such clarity and passion.

  • SpEdteach September 11, 2015 (8:17 am)

    Thank you for posting a real-life example, Trent! It’s so frustrating to see the numbers portrayed so wrong. It’s also relevant to note that the district’s offer of 14% *includes* the COLA already given by the state-so they are, in fact, only offering around 9.5% over 3 years. All that aside, caseloads for our therapists, high stakes testing and fair evaluations are far more important to me than salary. Where is the district’s offer on these issues??

  • Kill your TV September 11, 2015 (8:17 am)

    I’ve found out over the years that the mainstream TV media frequently do not report the news right, especially if it is “breaking”. They want to tease and brag that they have the latest “shocking” developments and first to announce it. Don’t trust automatically what you hear (and read). So many errors. I don’t watch them anymore because I despise sensationalism.

  • Dean September 11, 2015 (8:39 am)

    SPS is now locking out even more district employees who were not previously on strike.

  • Near Alki September 11, 2015 (9:05 am)

    As a parent of public school children I just want both sides to promptly negotiate this to a mutually agreeable conclusion. I read 3rd grade teachers Trent’s post and went to WSB salary link. I also found this link: http://data.spokesman.com/salaries/schools/2015/92-seattle-public-schools/
    and found it a little bit easier to comprehend. It’s clear to me what insurance benefits are but can someone explain to me what Bonuses/Stipends represents…seems most all the teachers receive this additional compensation which appears to be near $10-$20k for most teachers…All in all, thanks to all the wonderful teachers my family has had the pleasure of working with, whose methods, caring attitude and approach have benefited my children in unimaginable ways. The 3 West Seattle schools we have attended have been outstanding.

  • Jack Carson September 11, 2015 (9:11 am)

    Because something is called base salary but it is not the whole salary does not mean that teachers are not paid the whole salary. Regardless of what bucket the salary is coming from the whole salary is a combination of the base salary and the TRI (what ever that is).

    Having student loans is what most college students end up with. The amount of student loans someone takes on has more to do with the choice of the college the student goes to than the amount they will get paid upon graduation. Many people end up with a high amount of student loan debt and a job that pays less than teachers get.
    The reasons someone should or should not get a raise should not have to do with student loans.

  • Cecelia September 11, 2015 (9:29 am)

    I attended the community forum last night in support of the teachers. I learned so much last night from a lot of different perspectives that it’s a lot to process. I think there will be video available of it at some point.

    One thing to remember about the pay increase they are asking for is that they cost of their health insurance also went up over the last couple of years so that means even less take home pay.

    Much of what they are fighting for is not just pay. Racial equity is one and also reduced case loads for special education and counselors.

    How about 400 students to one counselor. At the highschool this means career counseling and mental health both. How does anyone benefit from this? They don’t.

    The naysayers and the district like to harp on the money but this is about more than just that.

  • AmandaKH September 11, 2015 (9:42 am)

    Okay, enough people! A teacher came on here to tell you how wrong you all are by Giving Us HIs Exact Take Home Pay. Stop disparaging teachers, RIGHT NOW. Teachers are almost always required to have a masters now, even though they are Not getting paid anywhere Near enough to pay for that level of education. You know, college – that magical place where tuition has grown so much over the years even for instate schools like UW. You know, that place that you want your kids to go, so we need good teachers to get them there. Vicious cycle, right?
    *
    Stand with the teachers. Or don’t. But Please refrain from making any more comments about how you know what’s what.

  • Curate September 11, 2015 (10:00 am)

    I sincerely mean no disrespect to SEA or to the teachers, whom I support unequivocally, both in spirit and in practice, having been to the picket lines. But how does SEA *know* that SPS can “afford” the financial demands portion of its demands? Is there any transparency whatsoever in the district budget? A lot of people toss around Supt. Nyland’s 300K salary, but what else do we the general public or SEA in particular truly know about the district’s bottom line?

    One thing that seems to be missing in the comments here on the blog (but present in other print media’s coverage — e.g. The Stranger and the NYT) is that the problem is not just district-wide, it’s state-wide. You can’t separate what’s happening here from the State Supreme Court’s ongoing daily fine (100K) of the legislature for failing to adequately fund public education.

    Is it possible that the district simply doesn’t have the funds, given the state’s budget?

    AGAIN: Please, no flames. I am only asking out of genuine curiosity and confusion and I support the teachers 110% in this strike.

  • Trapped September 11, 2015 (10:12 am)

    Philip Lund: great question – I am a teacher (20 yrs), despise Our union, tried to get out, but only saved 7$ and lost my ability to vote. It does suck to be forced into a union, paying required dues right out of my check each month $100.
    Let’s be honest, if stuff goes down and I need legal support I’m hiring my own attorney.

  • udmiou1 September 11, 2015 (2:35 pm)

    Thank you teachers for your service in the community today, and a read-in is a fantastic idea to teach kids how to effectively operate during this time. Special thanks to the gentleman above for all of the detail around pay; as I understand it, compensation is only 1 facet of the situation. It would be interesting to see the entire state budget spread out to fully understand both sides, but that is not going to happen. Our teachers have a vested interest in doing their job – teaching our kids; those in the decision making at the district level have a vested interest in sticking to their budget numbers, that’s their job. Based on the way I see money spent in this county and state, I will choose to side with the teachers as I align with their interest(s).

  • Rope September 12, 2015 (8:08 am)

    Taxpayers and union members should have a better picture of the district’s finances. Ultimately it’s our money the district is spending. Neither party in this labor dispute has done an adequate job of educating the public about the district’s money matters. As a result the SPS and SEA are playing catch up and presenting contradictory information. Is this a deliberate effort to confuse, or there multiple ways to calculate these figures? At any rate the public, in an effort to comprehend this strike, is asking questions and weighing in with opinions. We continue to get contradictory, convoluted, and confusing figures from both parties. This isn’t good educational practice!

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