Seattle Schools Community Forum

This is a thread for any and all School Board candidates who would like to make a statement about the strike. Please e-mail me at sss.westbrook@gmail.com with your statement (which I will print in full with no edits).  Or, put your statement in the Comments section. I myself would not necessarily hold it against any candidate who does not make a statement; that's their choice during an election. But I will offer this opportunity. Jill Geary said this on Facebook: I have been getting inquiries as to whether I support our teachers and how I would have vote as a school board member. Of course, I do not currently sit on the board, and am not privy to all the information - but, from what I know of the issues and my personal beliefs, I could not see voting yes to bring legal action against our teachers. The parents I have heard from want our teachers supported and are willing to make sacrifices to see they are treated fairly as they stand up for our kids!!! As a school board repre...

In the interest of fairness, here's the link to the district's page on the strike.   Commendations To address questions about the start of school, the strike and contract negotiations, the district has established a message line. Questions left at 206-252-0207 will be added to the FAQ on this section of the website. However, there are some points which both sides continue to work toward agreement, including teacher and professional salary. Below is a brief summary of the top issues in the negotiation. Read the negotiation proposals and counter proposals on the Negotiation Proposals webpage.

Update from the Soup for Teachers Facebook group: I am working with Jesse Hagopian to rally the community to raise money for and show our support to our public school educators while they strike. Being without an income isn't easy for many teachers so let's give a hand. On Sunday evening there will be sets by Official Kimya Dawson , Aesop Rock w/ Rob Sonic & DJ Zone, Grayskul , Jim Page, Alex Zerbe: Professional Zaniac and more!!! So come out, wear red, shake your tail, and thank our teachers for standing up for themselves, walking strong and fighting for our kids!!!  Starts at 5:30 pm. Thanks to STG and Neptune Theater for donating the space and staffing the event. Thanks to Coalition for the Schools Seattle Deserves for sponsoring the event. ALL AGES!!! Suggested 5 - 5 billion dollar donation at the door. No teacher will be turned away for lack of funds. ♥ end of update

This is one of the funnier press announcements I have read in a long time. In a ruling Sept. 4, the Washington State Supreme Court declared the initiative that established our state’s charter schools to be unconstitutional. This ruling potentially affects more than 1,000 students who have already started the 2015-16 school year. “Even before the initiative was finalized, I warned the drafters it was unconstitutional,” State Superintendent Randy Dorn said. “And after the initiative was passed, I sent a letter to key education leaders in the state legislature expressing my concerns. “But now that school is in session, we need to do everything we can not to disrupt the education of the students caught in the middle of this argument.” This is the second time in two months that the state Supreme Court has ruled on the constitutionality of our current education system. Dorn urges the governor to call a solution-oriented special legislative session to fix the charter school law and to addre...

From KPLU's Kyle Stokes: “A contract that is not fiscally sound will hurt” our district, says @ seapubschools spokeswoman  (note: that would be Stacy Howard). At this point, there is no timeline for legal action says @ seapubschools spokeswoman Stacy Howard.

Two stories from two noted national newspapers. One is from the New York Times and is one of the most objectively written stories on public education that I have read in a long time.  Its overview is the turmoil in public education in Washington State, including the Seattle teachers strike but is mostly about the Supreme Court decision on the charter law. About the charter ruling; We are now firmly on that chess table,” said Thomas Franta, the chief executive of the Washington State Charter Schools Association. But he said the political terrain had gotten tricky because with two giant education issues facing the Legislature, the pressure would be immense to tackle them at the same time in a special session. “And doing them both at the same time is going to be more difficult,” he added. But David Sciarra, the executive director of the Education Law Center, which advises lawyers on education financing cases, said the Washington ruling could foreshadow fights over char...

You have to be many things to be a teacher - tough is one of them.