Some parents are raising questions about what could happen to special education resources and staffing, and they're worried about the impacts to their students.
With days until the first day of school, contract talks have resumed between the state's largest school district and the union representing teachers, counselors, nurses and other staff, with help from a mediator.
The employees are prepared to go on strike Sept. 2 and delay the first day of school if they don't get better pay and more help in the classroom, according to union members who voted to authorize the strike last week.
Some parents are raising questions about what could happen to special education resources and staffing, and they're worried about the impacts on their students.
"Our kids are going into first grade, and we wanted to settle in a community that was inclusive to autistic kids," SPS parent Jessie Dugan told KOMO News.
Jessie and Kyle Dugan uprooted their family this summer from Houston to Seattle, where they say they have access to better special education supports for 6-year-old Jack.
"Jack, like a lot of kids with special needs, thrives when he has one-on-one supports or at least a smaller group setting, and it’s amazing to see kids in those instances really flourish," Kyle Dugan added.
But as contract talks continue between SPS and the teachers' union -- which over the weekend started making signs for a potential strike -- the Dugans are worried about losing staff as the district proposes a new special education structure that has not been finalized nor made public.
"I understand tough choices need to be made," Dugan stated. "Unfortunately, this feels like you’re taking from kids with the highest needs and the most vulnerable children among them."
It’s possible there might be a para at one school, and then they would go to another," Superintendent Ben Shuldiner stated at a Monday press conference. "We want to make sure your child gets the appropriate services. And let's say your child has a [paraeducator or other support staff], a one-on-one; absolutely that child would still have a one-on-one.
This comes as the district faces an $87 million budget deficit and district staff push for raises of up to 2% above inflation, which they consider living wages for paraprofessionals and other professionals. According to a social media post where the Seattle Education Association is posting regular negotiation updates and reactions, the 6,000 union members are also asking for no cuts to students' special education supports and relief from pressurization, such as large class sizes, high caseloads and too many non-student-focused tasks.
"It’s difficult because we’re broke. If we had money, I would love to give it to everybody," Shuldiner added about the ongoing contract talks.
Despite parents' fears, Shuldiner explained SPS is proposing a 9-percent raise for staff over three years. The district, for the first time on Sunday, posted some of its bargaining updates online, which noted it aims to improve staff-to-student ratios and add dozens of new staff positions for special education programs.
The superintendent's press conference came nearly a day after he sent a newsletter to parents, noting some of the hold-ups in the bargaining process, and the efforts to restructure special education.
"We are trying to address the need to have students stay in their neighborhood school and have teachers get additional behavioral support. By doing this, the district has also put on the table a special education proposal that would lead toward lower staff-to-student ratios for a majority of our special education students. And even the classes where the ratios might go up, we are creating extra supports. And again, the district is not tied to this or any other proposal. But we do want to try to do something," he wrote. "We have proposed many different models with changes along the way based on feedback from SEA. However, even after meeting with SEA for many hours over the last week, SEA has told us that they can’t respond in a formal way because it is too hard or too difficult. In fact, their latest proposal to us just reads: 'Special Education.'"
A union representative told KOMO News on Monday that what the district is currently offering isn't good enough, but that they're all hoping to avoid a strike.
"I think some people think it’s just, ‘Y’all just want money.’ No," SPS Substitute Nurse Lynne Oliphant explained. "Ultimately, you want to be able to retain, you want to be able to attract, you want to be able to support the best educators you possibly can for students."
Shuldiner said if union members do go on strike Wednesday, the district will work to make sure students can still get food service. SPS is also in touch with nonprofits and other groups that may be able to provide before- and after-school care.
