With clock ticking, Kent teachers prepare for possible strike
KENT, Wash. -- Instead of getting their rooms ready for the new school year, Kent teachers are preparing for the possibility of a strike.
"A strike, unfortunately, is not where we want to go, but it may be the only option that we have to let them know that we are serious and we deserve better," said Lisa Brackin-Johnson, president of the Kent Education Association.
Teachers are asking for more pay, smaller class sizes and more time to prepare their course work.
Three weeks from today it will either be the first day of school, or the first day of a teacher's strike.
Washington Education Association President Mary Lindquist said she's hopeful a settlement can be reached in time.
"No teacher ever wants to go out on strike," she said. "That's something you do when you have no other options."
Kent teachers believe the district is sitting on a huge cash reserve of $25 million, but the district says the figure is closer to $21 million and the money is already budgeted for emergencies and projects already under way.
The district says it is boosting teacher pay so Kent is no longer at the bottom of the region's pay scale, and points out that it was able to prevent most layoffs last year.
"We feel very fortunate in Kent that we're not having to ask teachers or staff to take furlough days or pay cuts," said district spokeswoman Becky Hanks. "We were able to bring back all but four of our 125 teachers."
Four more bargaining sessions are planned before a strike authorization vote scheduled for August 26th.
Seattle school teachers are still bargaining for a new contract to being the school year, as are teachers in Shoreline and Everett.
But right now Kent is seen as the district with the greatest potential for a strike.
"A strike, unfortunately, is not where we want to go, but it may be the only option that we have to let them know that we are serious and we deserve better," said Lisa Brackin-Johnson, president of the Kent Education Association.
Teachers are asking for more pay, smaller class sizes and more time to prepare their course work.
Three weeks from today it will either be the first day of school, or the first day of a teacher's strike.
Washington Education Association President Mary Lindquist said she's hopeful a settlement can be reached in time.
"No teacher ever wants to go out on strike," she said. "That's something you do when you have no other options."
Kent teachers believe the district is sitting on a huge cash reserve of $25 million, but the district says the figure is closer to $21 million and the money is already budgeted for emergencies and projects already under way.
The district says it is boosting teacher pay so Kent is no longer at the bottom of the region's pay scale, and points out that it was able to prevent most layoffs last year.
"We feel very fortunate in Kent that we're not having to ask teachers or staff to take furlough days or pay cuts," said district spokeswoman Becky Hanks. "We were able to bring back all but four of our 125 teachers."
Four more bargaining sessions are planned before a strike authorization vote scheduled for August 26th.
Seattle school teachers are still bargaining for a new contract to being the school year, as are teachers in Shoreline and Everett.
But right now Kent is seen as the district with the greatest potential for a strike.