Bainbridge teachers may join other educators from across the state in a one-day walkout to protest the Legislature’s inadequate funding of public schools.
David Layton, a language arts/American studies teacher at Bainbridge High and the president of the Bainbridge Island Education Association, the union that represents teachers in the Bainbridge school district, said Wednesday that the union has set a vote on the one-day strike for Monday, April 27.
If the walkout is authorized by the union’s membership next week, Bainbridge teachers will participate in a one-day work stoppage on Friday, May 1.
The single-day strike is not directed at the Bainbridge school district or local officials, Layton said.
“The first thing that we clearly want to say is, obviously, none of this is directed at our local community,” he said. “We’re blessed to have lived here, and how much they have always put kids first.”
Teachers plan to minimize any disruption by returning to school immediately after the walkout.
“Our intent is that the work stoppage concludes at 3 o’clock, so any after-school activity — such as the Ordway carnival, the school play — none of those things should be impacted,” Layton said.
Layton said he has already talked with district officials and the school board about teachers’ plans to press their concerns.
He also noted that teachers are planning to participate in a rally Saturday in the state capital to protest the Legislature’s lack of support for public education.
The Bainbridge union hopes to fill between two to five buses to send to the rally in Olympia. The costs for the buses will be covered by the association, he said.
“We’re sending as many many people as we can,” Layton said.
Teacher unions across the state have been planning for the one-day strike, and educators’ frustrations with lawmakers in Olympia center on the Legislature’s inability to comply with a Washington Supreme Court decision from January 2012 that directed the Legislature to funnel more money into basic education.
In its decision in McCleary v. State of Washington, the high court said the state had failed in its paramount duty to fully fund staff salaries and benefits and transportation. And late last year, the Washington Supreme Court held the Legislature in contempt of court for failing to come up with an acceptable plan for funding basic education.
The state has admitted in court filings that it has underfunded basic education, Layton said, and should be spending nearly $3,000 more per child this year.
For Bainbridge, that means “$9 million for this district alone,” he said.
“Can you imagine what we could do with class sizes, program development and professional development if we had full funding?” Layton asked. “It would be such a different experience for kids and teachers.”
