Seattle Education Association Tentative Contract Vote - High Drama?
I've been hearing from different people (and keeping my ear to the ground) and it seems that the vote tonight on the tentative contract - at Benaroya Hall at 5 p.m. - may be closer than previously thought. There was very nearly a tie in the last school rep vote. This is worrying because even if the contract is approved, having a large number of the teaching corps coming into class feeling defeated/unhappy, is not a good way to start the school year. Why? It would seem to be a combination of issues. 1) some grassroots pushback on the terms of the contract (and confusion over different points) 2) a general feeling of unhappiness about SEA leadership 3) a feeling that what is in the contract is not being adequately explained to either teachers or supporters (i.e. parents/community) Issues: - evaluation - the complaint is that they will have to be evaluated in two ways. One via a state evaluation system and then a second district evaluati...