Negotiations between the Kent School District and the union that represents teachers are continuing, but if a deadlock between the two entities remains, a teacher strike could threaten the start of the school year.
In negotiations Wednesday, the Kent Education Association rejected the district’s salary proposal, a move that according to the offer would result in district administration completely withdrawing it – setting the stage for a potential work stoppage.
A KEA membership meeting is scheduled for Aug. 23 and the union has said that if no settlement is reached by that day, the union will take a strike vote.
If the union chooses to strike, the scheduled first day of school, Aug. 31, could be in jeopardy. If there is a strike, schools would not open as scheduled, and parents will need to find child care until the labor issues are settled.
KEA President Lisa Brackin-Johnson said Thursday that if the membership does vote to strike, the union would inform the media and also communicate with parents through flyers, phone calls and alternate media sites.
Brackin-Johnson also said that the five-day interval between the vote and the scheduled first day of school gives the district and union “some time” to complete negotiations, as well a time for parents to prepare.
“We understand it is disruptive to families,” Brackin-Johnson said. “It’s disruptive to our staff as well.”
Brackin-Johnson said the union’s goal was to reach a settlement that would allow school to start on time.
“That has been our goal from the beginning,” she said.
District Communications director Becky Hanks said the district would use its Web site as well as the media to keep parents informed during a potential strike.
“Anytime there’s any type of school interruption we make sure parents are informed,” she said.
Hanks said the district also hopes for school to begin on time, but any days missed would have to be made up.
“If days of school are missed … they would need to be scheduled for other times,” she said.
As to whether extracurricular activities, such as fall sports, would continue through a strike, Hanks said that was one of the questions the district could not answer yet.
“Our hope is there will be resolution,” Hanks said. “A strike isn’t good for anyone.”
Hanks also said the district was a bit put off by a recent television report that showed KEA members making picket signs for an impending strike.
Brackin-Johnson said the union wants an offer from the district that “does not ignore” the union’s issues of “time, workload and compensation.”
She added that the salary offer, which was first presented at the July 23 bargaining session was “not a raise.”
“It’s additional work for additional pay,” she said. “They want us to work more and that is not a raise.”
Hanks said the offer included an increase in teacher total compensation through increases to incentive money, such as commitment pay, which teachers receive for re-signing the contract and that at least one of the additional days offered is in recognition that teachers do work outside of the classroom, which is why the additional hours pay require no other reporting requirements, and which to the district makes it a salary increase without an additional day of work.
She also said the district restored one of the days cut by the state, which will cost the district $500,000. Other local districts have simply cut the days for which the state no longer pays.
The district’s proposal also states that rejection of the offer would result in the package being withdrawn and a return to the district’s previous positions on all proposals.
Brackin-Johnson said the union is waiting for an offer that includes more teacher-directed time, an acknowledgement of work done outside contract hours, a reduction in after-school meetings and fewer before-school meetings, adding that those are times the teachers could be spending with children.
“Teachers understand these are tough times,” she said. “But we also know the downturn won’t last forever, but a quality education will.”
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