Seattle teachers union suspends strike; schools to reopen

Union leaders had hoped to oust the metric – which tracks teachers’ performance using changes in student test scores from one year to the next – from the district’s teacher evaluation system.

Why are Seattle teachers on strike?

Many teachers say they have gone six years without a cost-of-living raise, making it hard to live in Seattle, where expenses have been rising in part from the influx of highly paid tech workers.

Teachers’ annual salaries in Seattle range from about $44,000 to more than $86,000, depending on experience and education.

But the union’s grievances extend beyond pay. Details of the agreement could also be found on the Seattle Public Schools website.

Stephanie Jones, executive director of the nonprofit Community & Parents for Public Schools of Seattle, said she was left wondering which programs might get cut if teachers are getting raises.

National data show that chronically absent students are less likely to be reading by third grade and less likely to graduate high school.

The school district said it wanted a contract that’s fiscally responsible. Finally, capping the caseloads for school psychologists and specialists, like occupational and speech therapists, who are often disproportionately overworked at underprivileged schools, is another demand. This was in addition to a better contract that would allow them to better afford living in Seattle.

Before this week, SEA had made headway with the district in regard to longer required recesses for elementary-schoolers and increased pay for substitutes.

It initially threatened to bring legal action against the teachers, but finally decided not to.

The deal was reached on Tuesday morning, according to the district. However, union officials across the state believed more was needed.

The union represents 5,000 teachers and support staff in the state’s largest school district.

So is this really just the state’s fault?

“A victory for the union is also a victory for education across the country”.

Cassandra Johnston, president of the Seattle Council of Parent, Teacher and Student Associations, said family responses to the strike were all over the map.

“Relieved, excited”, Michelle Smith, a teacher at New Horizons High School said. All classes are canceled for Wednesday.

Seattle teachers last went on strike over failed contract negotiations in 1985. Nine charter schools were slated to open in Washington this school year, but their future is now uncertain.