Teachers rally in rain
August 20, 2008
By Laura Geggel
Group still hopes for successful negotiations before possible strike
Rally participants show their support for the Snoqualmie Education Association Aug. 18. Photo by Laura Geggel
A group of about 50 local teachers gathered outside the school district administrative officein the rain Aug. 18 to show their solidarity for the Snoqualmie Education Association.
The SEA has been negotiating with the Snoqualmie Valley School District since February to update a three-year contract regarding the salary and benefits of certified staff.
Depending on the agreement reached between the SEA and the district, teachers will vote either to approve or reject a strike Aug. 27. At the rally, SEA President Art Galloway said the union would be able to negotiate with the district up until Sept. 3, the first day of school.
Jim Ullman, a member of a negotiating team and a teacher at Twin Falls Middle School, said the school board needed to realize there is a job market out there.
“We’re an Eastside school district,” Ullman said. “We’re no longer a logging town community. Our test scores are comparable, our property values are comparable, yet (monetarily) we’re at the bottom of the Eastside school districts.”
When compared to the nine other Eastside school districts, Snoqualmie Valley School District has the lowest salaries. Ullman said the district investigated comparable salaries and benefits during the negotiations.
“My feeling is the district needs to be doing that kind of investigating every year, rather than waiting for us to negotiate and suddenly deciding to look at the job market of what comparable teachers are getting paid,” Ullman said.
Jan Gifford, a teacher at Cascade View Elementary, agreed.
“Somehow, they always seem to look at comparables whenever you look at test results,” Gifford said.
Addressing the rally, Galloway acknowledged the demand for higher salaries. He said he would like to see more incentives for teachers with seniority to stay in the district. He said the SEA was also bargaining for how teachers are compensated for their growing workloads.
“Workload has increased incrementally over time,” Galloway said. “You don’t notice it until you realize, ‘I’m at school and it’s 8 p.m. and I’m nowhere near done.’”
Under the current contract, teachers have two hours weekly on early-release Fridays to help them manage their workloads. The current contract also provides additional days of compensation for work done outside their typical workday, said Carolyn Malcolm, public information coordinator for the district. She added that starting at 15 years of service, “staff members are recognized for their longevity in five-year intervals.” Both the district and the state factor in years of service into payroll.
The SEA and the district were continuing to trade proposals, Galloway said, but there was little headway in bargaining. Another mediated bargaining session has been scheduled for Aug. 21.
“Discussions were productive,” said Malcolm. “They are focusing on some of the key economic and teacher workload issues. An agreement has not yet been reached.”
Finding money for the teachers is a difficult issue for the district. After approving the 2008-09 budget, the school board is predicting about a $1 million deficit between projected revenues and expenditures in the general fund. Out of 298 districts in the state, Snoqualmie ranks 290th in per-pupil state funding from the state.
Yet Galloway said the district could tap other areas of funding, such as future maintenance and operations levies, technology levies and I-728 – a fund directing state surplus revenues toward reducing class sizes, increasing learning opportunities for students and providing professional development for staff.
The Lake Washington School District, for example, is using money from a technology levy to award teachers who take and pass technology classes.
With money tight for both sides, Galloway asked the district to budget its money more creativity.
Fall City Elementary teacher and Fall City resident Amy Jones plans to work part-time this year so she can take care of her daughter and save money on childcare.
“It’s too expensive for daycare down here,” Jones said. “I’ve taught for 10 years, this is my eleventh year. With one child, I’m spending between $1,000 to $1,500 a month on childcare.”
Like many of her colleagues, Fall City Elementary teacher and North Bend resident Bonnie Beck said wages were tied to respect.
“They want the consistent progress and the high test scores, and now they have to pay for the high-quality teachers,” Beck said. “Teachers want to be here. We’re not here for money. We’re here for the kids. There is nothing more that would break my heart than to not be here for the first day of school. I’m really hoping that we’re going to come to a successful agreement.”
Reporter Laura Geggel can be reached at 392-6434 x221 or lgeggel@snovalleystar.com.
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As much as I support teachers and feel they are underpaid and under respected, it was incredibly ironic to me to see the name “bonnie beck” in this article. I’ve never complained about a teacher until my child had her. She had to be the WORST teacher I’ve ever encountered. She is an example of why we need to pay teachers more… so that we can attract candidates that are better than her.