Seattle isn’t the only school district where educators are prepared to go on strike.
Seattle isn’t the only school district where educators are prepared to go on strike.
Paraeducators in Tumwater say they are willing to miss the first day of school if the district does not agree to give them a raise.
A district spokesperson confirmed it is possible the start of school could be delayed beyond Sept. 2 if paraeducators go on strike and other staff join them. To keep that from happening, a district spokesperson said the union and the district asked for a neutral third party Friday to help them reach an agreement.
Kristin Sperling works one-on-one with students with special needs and said her salary in the Tumwater School District is not enough to pay the bills.
“I work two jobs to supplement what I get from my regular job,” she said. “Many paraeducators in our district are barely at the poverty line for income.”
She said she is among more than 100 paraeducators, or educational assistants, who voted in August to go on strike on the first day of school if their union cannot reach a contract agreement with the district.
It came as a shock to some students and their families.
“It’s just going to have more stress on the teachers and even the students,” incoming junior at A.G. West Black Hills High School Annabell Starkey told KOMO News.
“It’s very sad because we need our paraeducators,” Starkey’s grandmother, Cathy Miller, added.
Sperling said they are asking for an average raise of $160 per month.
“This contract bargaining has been pretty stressful, really frustrating, a little demoralizing,” Sperling said.
This comes as Seattle Public Schools teachers, counselors, nurses and other staff also voted to initiate a strike starting Sept. 2, which would delay classes if the district does not meet their demands for better pay and working conditions.
“Students might be getting less support than what they’re getting now, and we’re worried about safety and results for our students and families,” SPS teacher John Shaw said.
Tumwater paraeducators last authorized a strike for better wages in 2022, but an agreement was reached before the picket could happen.
In an emailed statement, the district cited financial challenges guiding the negotiations, including that it has enough state funding for about 11 paraeducators but employs 124, who are paid mostly through levy funds. The district also cited ongoing budget restrictions.
“You also have to factor in whether the district even has the money to give out a raise right now,” Tumwater resident Uche Nnanabu said.
“Everything is tight these days, but if we want our children to succeed, we need the support for them,” Miller added.
The first day of school is Sept. 2 for sixth- through 12th-grade students.
A district spokesperson said in a statement that should the paraeducators go on strike and other staff support them, “it’s most likely that the district would be unable to provide a safe, fully staffed learning environment and would need to make the decision to delay the start of school.”
As of Friday, the Tumwater School District had not been told by other staff labor groups whether they would also honor a potential picket line.
We appreciate the dedication, care and heart they bring to our classrooms and schools,” Superintendent Kevin Bogatin wrote. “Our goal at the bargaining table is to listen to their concerns and agree on a contract that truly recognizes their immense contributions while maintaining long-term financial stability for our schools.
The union said its deadline to reach an agreement with the district is Aug. 31.
If that does not happen, the paraeducators will go on strike Wednesday.
