Bellevue teachers' strike still on; no school Monday

Bellevue teachers' strike still on; no school Monday

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Story Published: Sep 5, 2008 at 12:34 PM PDT

Story Updated: Nov 21, 2008 at 1:46 AM PDT

By KOMO Staff and Associated Press

BELLEVUE - The union for striking Bellevue teachers says talks broke off Thursday evening, but the school district said negotiations resumed Friday afternoon.

However, there will be no school on Monday even if the district and teachers reach an agreement over the weekend, officials said.

The Bellevue School District said staff members will need time to notify parents, order perishable food and prepare classrooms for students after the strike is over.

The strike began Tuesday on what was supposed to be the first day of school, when no contract agreement was reached before the scheduled start of classes.

The teachers are demanding more control over their lesson plans, better health care benefits and an 11-percent increase in pay over the next three years.

Despite a mediator's presence during negotiations that ran through the long holiday weekend, the union and district were unable to come to terms on compensation and teachers' freedom to stray from the established curriculum.

"Cost of gas is going up, cost of living is going up. So we want to stay competitive and make sure we attract the best," said teacher Randy Litzenberger. "Bellevue kids deserve the best teachers. We want to make sure that happens for the long run."

The district says there's room to be more generous with benefits and allow teachers more control over how they teach, but there is no room in the budget for the pay raise, which would cost the district $3.8 million.

The BEA last went on strike 28 years ago.

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