Teacher strike in Bellevue

[sequoias]

Bellevue teachers strike continues | Local News | KING5.com | News for Seattle, Washington

I saw the teachers striking on Bellevue Ave in downtown Bellevue on way to my job from other job, it looked like over 100 of them, that's crazy! They have the strikes every year when school starts, *shrugs*

Bellevue teachers strike continues
05:59 PM PDT on Thursday, September 4, 2008
By KING Staff


Video: Bellevue teachers hit the picket line
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BELLEVUE, Wash. - The Bellevue School District will remain closed on Friday because of the teachers' strike.

So far, contract negotiations have ended without progress, but n egotiations are continuing for about 1,200 teachers in Bellevue.

Failed talks are delaying the beginning of school for some 16,000 students.

Educators are asking for higher wages and more freedom from a mandatory curriculum. The district says it doesn't have the money.

While salaries vary depending on experience, the average Bellevue teacher earns $58,000. The district has offered a 1.5 percent raise the first year and a 1 percent raise the second. It's important to note, this is on top of the state's cost of living adjustment which in 2009 will be 5.1 percent.

Teachers like Rob Duerr say the cost of living in Bellevue is higher than other districts.

"I can't afford to be taking steps backwards," he said.

"I feel sorry for the younger teachers who drive through Bellevue and can't even buy a house in the area," said teacher Steve Mackie.

"We believe the teachers' demands for compensation would have a huge financial setback on the district," said Ann Oxrieder, Bellevue School District spokesperson. "It would be financially disastrous for us to do that. As important, it would hurt the academic program."

Bellevue teachers want better benefits, and also accuse the district of trying to micro-manage their classrooms, with mandated Web-based curriculum that they claim doesn't take into account individual needs.

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"We're required to use the same lesson for all students," said teacher Bryona Golding. "In taking away our autonomy, taking away our ability to get to know our students and then meet their needs the district is making it impossible for us to be good teachers."

But the district says teachers are required to implement the approved curriculum.

As a state mediator headed into another round of negotiations between the school district and the teachers' union, there was still a big gap over compensation.

"It's a great place to work, a tough place to try to live and raise a family. We just want to keep pace," said teacher Dusty Steere.

"We don't have the money. It takes a huge amount of money to give them the raise they are asking for, huge," said Oxrieder.

The strikes leaves parents like Meg Dunwiddie worrying about balancing their jobs and childcare.

"Both my husband and I work," said Dunwiddie. "A lot of the moms are thinking about cooping and taking turns watching a bunch of kids, possibly asking my parents for help."

"Yeah, my wife works. I work. We're pretty much in peril I guess," said parent Eddie Rayden.

Emergency school closure information is posted on the District's Web site and will be on the "snow information" line at 425-456-4111.

Child care resources for parents

The Bellevue Boys and Girls Club has set up a strike camp that will handle about 100 children. The Bellevue YMCA and Jubilee Reach Center are also offering child care.

Parents can register and get more information on day camps below:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue; 209 100th AVE NE, Bellevue; 425-454-6162; Home

Bellevue Family YMCA; 14230 Bel-Red Rd; Bellevue; 425-746-9900; http://www.seattleymca.org

Jubilee Reach Center; 14200 SE 13th Pl.; 425-746-0506; http://www.jublieereach.org

Childcare Resources-East King County; 16315 NE 87th Street; Building B, Redmond, WA 98052; Referral Line (425) 865-9350; Provider Line (425) 865-9033; Child Care Resources of King County, Washington | Information and referral services for child care in Seattle

The City of Bellevue is supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue's expanded childcare day camp at South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way. For registration information, call 425-452-4240. The city is also prepared to open day camps for children at two other community centers on Thursday, Sept. 4, if the strike continues. Registration will be required and information will be available on the City of Bellevue Web site, or by phone at 452-452-6885.

KING 5's Bernard Choi, Tricia Manning-Smith and Jane McCarthy contributed to this report.

 

[RedFox]

Why not quit the public school and set up a private school where they can teach the way they want to?

 

[sequoias]

Bellevue teachers reject latest offer

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Teachers with the Bellevue Education Association have rejected the latest offer from the Bellevue School District.

On Monday the district presented its 1,200 teachers and staff members with a new offer of 4.5-percent pay raise in the next three years with the contingency that levies pass in the final year.

Combined with a 5.1 cost-of-living allowance from the state, the offer would have bumped teachers' salaries by 9.6 percent.

In order to balance the pay increase, the district said classroom size would also grow by 0.76 students by the end of the third year, which is in addition to an increase of 0.8 students this year as a result of ongoing budget cuts.

The union rejected the offer by a 75-percent vote, citing quality of education as a point of contention.

In order to implement its latest offer, the district said it would have to shorten the school days of high school students by one period and also get rid of electives. The union said such changes would not be acceptable.

The district initially proposed an increased of 3 percent pay raise in the next three years - or 8.1-percent increase when combined with the cost-of-living allowance - but teachers with the Bellevue Education Association rejected the offer on Sept. 1, the day before classes were scheduled to resume. More than 16,000 students are now waiting to begin the new school year.

The two biggest issues are compensation and teachers' freedom to stray from the established curriculum.

The teachers' union said it has softened its original demand of an 11-percent pay raise over three years to 9 percent, to 5 percent over two years, but had yet to reach an agreement with the district.

School board president Peter Bentley said with district already facing a $5 million budget cut, his hands are tied.

"My son is a junior and I hear from him everyday, 'Is there nothing left to do?' If it's about the money there's nothing left to do," he said.

The union, meanwhile, insist the strike is not only a means to increase teachers' salaries but also to improve the quality of education their students receive.

"If you're a parent then I'm assuming that you want your child to have the best education that they can have," said Michele Miller with BEA. "Well, if the teachers are there but they're not allowed to reach out and find the thing that will grab the child, then are they really getting quality education?"

Both sides said they are willing to continue negotiations, but the district said if they reach an impasse, it may consider taking the teachers to court.

 

[sequoias]

Why not quit the public school and set up a private school where they can teach the way they want to?

Doesn't work that way...not every parent can afford to pay for education. Mostly rich people pay for private schools.

 

[Byrdie714]

Question: how does the strike in Bellevue affect us?

 

[sequoias]

Question: how does the strike in Bellevue affect us?

It affects 16,000 students, parents forcing to put their kids in daycare, bus drivers out of work, etc.

 

[Tousi]

I thought it was illegal for teachers to go on strike during the school year and while negotiations are on-going?

 

[sequoias]

I thought it was illegal for teachers to go on strike during the school year and while negotiations are on-going?

That's a good question. I think it's different here in WA compared in California.

 

[PowerON]

that's second huge strike situation in Seattle area. Amazing...