Kent School District Strike

[JanS]

So it seems to me that the school district has all the power…not exactly a wonderful working environment. As with all things in life, I just wish people would be honest…with themselves, and with others…especially when it comes to something like this.

If I was a parent in the KSD, I would be furious at the underhandness of the school board.

Share This

[JoB]

they should be..

but the school board’s actions aren’t exactly transparent are they?

It’s so much easier to blame the teachers.

The judge ordered them back to school. Did he order them to teach?

the trouble is too many parents will be perfectly happy as long as there is babysitting service.

Share This

[charlabob]

The judge ordered the teachers back to work (and fines to start Monday for union and individual teachers.) The school district turned down an offer from the Union that would have reduced class size and cost $200K less than the district’s plan. The district will not schedule additional bargaining. The union is stunned. I’m not. The antiunion philosophy often expressed is more important to some than reasonable offers on either side or, obviously, than the good of the students.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2009843681_kentstrike11m.html

Share This

[JoB]

The judge who issued those orders participated in classic union breaking… to the detriment of the students in that school district.

yet I am guessing she would say that she had no choice since that was the legal issue before her.

This is why the issues themselves might often be more important than the law.

the kids are the real losers here.

Share This

[Kelly]

Wow. This is just depressing. What is the point of a teachers’ union in this state?

Thanks for the link to the Times article, charlabob. Here is a quote from it that I found interesting:

“Negotiations began in April, and the strike started Aug. 27. Like firefighters and police officers, teachers are public employees who, by state law, are prohibited from striking.

But while police and firefighters are subject to binding arbitration, teachers are not. So when they have a dispute over a contract and can’t settle it, they are at the mercy of the district, Jim Gasper, attorney for the teachers union, told Darvas when the two sides appeared before her for the first time Sept. 1.”

Two things jumped out at me from that excerpt:

1. The district and union have been bargaining since April. That is a long time.

2. I appreciate how the article points out the difference of how firefighters and police are subject to binding arbitration, but teachers are not. To be at the mercy of the school district is not an envious position.

In my opinion, the Kent School District is flagrantly taunting the teachers with the judge’s ruling by not agreeing to their new proposal.

Where is the outrage at the district and central office administrators?

Share This

[JoB]

Kelly

unfortunatley, outrage at the district and central administrators doesn’t serve any political agenda.

nor does actual education at this point.

a union without any bargaining power isn’t much of a union…

perhaps we should pressure our state legislators to make teacher’s contracts subject to binding arbitration?

I am as depressed as you because i don’t think we would get far.. not much political traction there:(

Meanwhile.. the kids lose. I wonder how long we can afford that as a nation?

Share This

[anatidaephobia]

The district is going to lose a lot of good teachers after this year. By the way, can a teacher quit right now @ the start of the year? Or is it forbidden per contract?

Share This

[jamminj]

so what exactly did the district itself compromise to make a better environment for the students???

Share This

[JoB]

anatidaephobia..

the problem with quitting.. if it’s legal.. is that there are no other jobs available now. could you afford to take the year off? my guess is that they can’t either.

but you are right, the best teachers in the district will be looking for jobs elsewhere.. with good cause.

if education is the goal, this is a school administration that should be fired. And i would bet that the school district could do that.

Share This

[JanS]

jamminj…a good question…I’d love to know specifics. The fact that the district said they weren’t going to negotiate until the Monday deadline told me a bit about their tactics.

I listened to an interview last night of a woman who said that the people they’re dealing with are elected? And that they are going to perhaps initiate recalls on them?

Share This

[Rope]

Strikes are the product of failed communications. Once the strike vote is taken issues become secondary. Bargaining will instead of negotiation skills are the emphasis. Bottom line… the administration and the union’s energies would be better spent working to ensure adequate stable funding for our state’s schools.

Share This

[bluebird]

94% of teachers approve new contract. Back to school tomorrow.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59236987.html

Share This

[CaptainBroncs]

The only thing I have to say about this is they should have fired them all. They have Union reps to protect their interests, let them deal with the districts and teachers should be a work teaching our kids.

And its great that some think this is a good lesson for our kids to stand up for what they believe for, but how much will that translate to your kid defying your order to go to bed at a certain time, or be home by a certain time or not do the chores that are required of them at home.

Now think of it translating to your kids challenging the Judge and braking some city or state law, How far do you think they’ll get from this lesson?

The Strike is also an inconvenience for parents who now have to shell out extra cash for for unplanned child care or using unplanned vacation days due to the school strike.

I also believe teachers wages should be a lot more, almost double what they receive now, but when you break rules or laws why should I feel compelled to side with the teachers when you are setting the wrong example for my kids.

What should have happened is what Reagan did to the Air Traffic Controllers, Fire all of them.

I’m sure there are plenty of experienced educators available around the country who are presently unemployed that would love to take those positions.

I’m glad the strike is over, lets not have this happen again.

Share This

[jamminj]

“Now think of it translating to your kids challenging the Judge and braking some city or state law, How far do you think they’ll get from this lesson?”

Yes, the lesson is that your education is not that important, and that we view your school as a daycare, not a place for education.

And that those who hold administrative positions are more important than the teachers that spend every day with you.

That we can overcrowd a classroom so that your education can be compromised.

So the lesson is, instead of fighting for the students, the politics win over your education.

nice win for those who strive for a daycare.

Share This

[CaptainBroncs]

I guess I didn’t make myself clear. Let them hash out their issues between the union and school districts, I mean make the Union rep work otherwise why have a union. Teachers can teach and fight for the kids at the same time.

Its better to teach a class of 40 to 45 kids then teach no kids at all. Parents need to work, its not the 40’s and 50’s when a mom can stay home and the dad could afford to take care of the family financially. Oh wait you must be single and only have one mouth, (maybe 2 if you have a pet) mouths to feed.

However my solution to teachers pay, remove 70% of the administrative position and with the money saved let them buy actual books instead of copy handouts from books and pay the teachers more money.

I’m glad all you got out of my post is the need for daycare and taking care of the administrative yahoos who run the show.

Defying the law is not education its being irresponsible.

If you are not going to teach my kid and complain then get another job. You have union representation and you can vote on your issues with the school system. That’s what I’m paying for, which I and the wife have to both go to work for, which one of us would have to take a day off and lose normal pay for when a strike happens.

If you can’t trust the union to get the job done, then drop the union this way the union dues go in your pocket and not the fat cat that can’t speak for you the way you require and speak to the district directly.

Dang it I hate unions. sorry lost my way. Bottom line teach my kids or get out of the teaching business.

Share This

[jamminj]

“If you are not going to teach my kid and complain then get another job.”

how about to the administrators, if you can’t create the best atmosphere for my children’s education and their teachers then you should quit your administrative job.

“If you can’t trust the union to get the job done, then drop the union”

how about, if you can’t trust the administration to get the job done, then drop the administration.

“Bottom line teach my kids or get out of the teaching business. “

bottom line is if you can’t provide a suitable work atmosphere for the teachers for my child, get out of the school administration business.

“Parents need to work, its not the 40’s and 50’s when a mom can stay home and the dad could afford to take care of the family financially.”

that’s your CHOICE, its not the districts responsibility to make sure you can work, it’s your responsibility to make sure your child has a good education, and 40+ children in a classroom doesn’t equal a good education.

Priorities.

Share This

[CaptainBroncs]

And this is why my kid goes to private school. I can’t even opt out from paying for public school system that doesn’t work. And yes its my choice to provide for my family and for the wife to assists because with the economy the way it is and the public services we have to pay for, most of which I don’t use mandate it.

Grow up.

Share This

[JanS]

Interesting that those who have no vested interest in the Kent schools, the Kent teachers, etc., etc. are the most vocal. If your kids are in private school…a choice that not everyone can afford, why do you even care…especially if you don’t live in Kent?

Fire the teachers? How much longer would school have been delayed if that had happened, waiting to interview, hire, get new hires up to speed on lesson plans , etc. Now that would have been really good for the kids ! They settled this…the kids are back in school, as are yours…everyone shake hands now :) And life goes on…

Share This

[beachdrivegirl]

Did I miss the post where we had a kent teacher or resident expressing their opinion? Last time I checked we were discussing the topic of the illegal strike and none of us actually had a “vested” interest in the strike. What a rude way to attempt to dismiss a poster who has a valid and legitimate opinion. Obviosly the strike was wrong otherwise the judge would not have attempted to fne them the $200 per day. Let’s all be thankful now that the strike is over. And for those that are still concerned passionately about class size & teachers pay may I suggest you write our state and federal officials because without state & federal funding/support things probably won’t change.

Share This

[JoB]

what did the strike accomplish?

apparently it educated the parents in the district..

“”Kent School District leaders will be forced to confront the issue of overcrowded classes now and in the future,” he said. “Parents say this 18-day strike awakened them to some of the abuses happening within the Kent School District.”

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/59236987.html

Why couldn’t the union representatives negotiate an acceptable contract for their teachers?

because the teacher are the only union i know of that is not allowed to strike by law but for which there is no binding arbitration.

Until there is binding arbitration, the school district has no incentive to bargain unless the teacher’s strike.

it’s that simple.

did the teacher’s end up with a better contract? yes, they did.

Did it meet the needs for limiting classroom crowding?

That remains to be seen.

There is a lesson to be learned here. We pay for the schools but we don’t hire the teachers or negotiate their contracts. We hire the head administrator and the school board to do that for us.

If we think teachers should be paid more.. if we think that schools in marginal areas that are doing an excellent job shouldn’t be closed in favor of schools that primarily serve the affluent, we need to let those we elected know.

And if they don’t deliver, we should fire them!

And in the meantime, we need t advocate for a law ensuring binding arbitration for teachers.

that will put an end to strikes…

if you believe that teachers should be paid more.. that they shouldn’t have more students than they can teach… that extracurricular programs are an important part of a well rounded education … then it’s time to stand up and advocate for what you believe in.

CaptainBroncs…

if you believe teachers should be paid more then you should be willing to do your part to support the public school system even though you choose to put your kids in private school until the system improves.. because that’s literally putting your money where your mouth is… anything else is only lip service.

we don’t have kids in the system any longer either.. and certainly not in our local system… but we graduated from public schools as did our children as are our grandchildren and likely our greatgrandchildren. We feel we owe that system a debt that can never be repaid.

However, more important is that kids who otherwise would have no choice but crime to support themselves get the kind of education that will offer them the opportunity to become contributing members of society.

we can’t afford less.

Share This

[JoB]

beachdrivegirl..

the judge ruled the Kent teacher strike illegal and ordered them back to class because like other essential services, there is a law making it illegal for teachers to strike.

However, teachers, unlike other essential services like the police and firemen are not protected by binging arbitration.

Had they been protected by binding arbitration, the judge would have been fining the school district not the teachers… since they bargained for over 3 months and ignored arbitration and chose not to offer the teachers an acceptable contract until after the strike had delayed the opening of school.

The obvious first lesson to learn from this is that we need to advocate to get all teachers.. not just those from the Kent School District.. the protection of binding arbitration.

This strike has certainly opened my eyes. It makes me wonder just what our local teachers have accepted in their contracts because they weren’t willing to face the legal censure of a strike that is detrimental to the educational environment of their students?

We pay for that education… we deserve full value for our dollar. Perhaps it is time that we looked into the details in our own school system.

Share This

[Author]

Posts