Teachers in two Snohomish County school districts voted Monday to join the wave of Washington educators walking off the job during one-day strikes aimed at swaying the Legislature.
Educators from Lake Stevens and Snohomish are joining those in Granite Falls with protests scheduled for Friday. Teachers are unhappy with the amount of money for smaller K-12 class sizes and educator pay in proposed state budgets.
Across Washington, teachers in 29 school districts have decided to strike over school funding. Union leaders are quick to point out that they are unhappy about state lawmakers, not district or local officials.
Teachers would prefer to demonstrate in Olympia, said Justin Fox-Bailey, president of the Snohomish Education Association.
“But, shamefully, they aren’t there,” he said of lawmakers. Many legislators are away while budget negotiations are under way. “Ultimately, teachers who took this step feel like they’re doing it in defense of their communities.”
The 550-member Snohomish teacher union was still working out the details for its strike. Educators will likely be waving signs and holding a rally in the afternoon at Ferguson Park, Fox-Bailey said. They plan to collect supplies for local groups that benefit students, such as the Snohomish Boys &Girls Club, the food bank and the bus that delivers books to neighborhoods during the summer.
In Lake Stevens, the union of about 430 teachers planned for them to meet at 7:30 a.m. on Friday at the Frontier Village Shopping Center. Teachers are to collect food for the food bank and waive signs along busy intersections before a rally at 10:30 a.m.
“We’re frustrated with the state not doing its job,” said Lake Stevens Education Association President Bob Ingraham.
In Granite Falls, about 120 union members planned to meet at 8:30 a.m. at the IGA. They will walk around downtown, waving signs and passing out postcards. Union leaders plan to give speeches.
Granite Falls, Lake Stevens and Snohomish have canceled school on Friday. The districts will extend the school year by one day to make up the instructional time.
Students scheduled to take advanced placement tests will still have to do so on Friday. Any state standardized tests planned for Friday are being rescheduled.
Most after-school activities are to continue as planned. People can check district websites for details.
Amy Nile: 425-339-3192; anile@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @AmyNileReports.
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