Subject: Walk Out?
Heading: HERE IS WHAT’S GOING ON:
·
Next week, Northshore teachers (NSEA) will vote
on a one day walkout in order to generate public and Legislature support
for major improvements in school funding and staffing levels, class sizes, and professional
compensation (including reasonable cost of health benefits)—as ordered by the
Supreme Court. This is to improve our
schools and work----to benefit our students.
Educator locals throughout the
Puget Sound area are doing this. Yesterday,
Lake Washington educators voted to do this.
IT’S TIME TO STAND TOGETHER FOR OUR SCHOOLS,
WORK, AND STUDENTS!
·
If a majority of teachers (NSEA) vote to
do this, NSD Admin will close school for the day, and schedule a make-up school
day at the end of the school year. 180 school days are required by law. Students would not lose a day of school, and
educators would not lose pay.
·
NESPA members will then vote on participating in the day’s activities,
which will be planned by NSEA and NESPA members together. The day will consist of
activities to focus public attention on the need for the Legislature to make
major improvements in school funding and staffing levels, class sizes, and
professional compensation (including reasonable cost of health benefits). We
hope that you will participate in these activities. They could include sign waving, rally, a march,
etc. IT’S TIME!
·
Why
now? Currently, none of the State
budget proposals being considered by the Legislature make adequate
improvements, as ordered by the Supreme Court.
The Constitutional rights of our students are being violated, and we are
being shortchanged in our compensation, which should by law be substantially
higher (e.g. about $7500 per year for a 6.5 hour para or school assistant, or
$4500 per year for a 4 hour para or school assistant). The Legislature is in Session now, and will
be voting on a budget sometime between now and the end of June. IT’S TIME TO STAND
TOGETHER FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WORK, AND STUDENTS!
·
A date for the walkout will be set after the teachers have voted. It will not
be this week or next.
·
NESPA is
having a Leadership Meeting on Thursday, April 30 for Building Communicators,
Asst Building Communicators, other NESPA leaders, and any others who wish to
attend. We will update, get input,
and plan. YOU are invited. 4 to 5:30 PM at the Bothell HS
Library. Let your Building Communicator
know if you are coming. IT’S TIME TO STAND TOGETHER FOR OUR SCHOOLS, WORK, AND
STUDENTS!
·
We started NESPA contract negotiations
yesterday, Tuesday, April 21! Thank you
to the many who completed surveys! We
will send you an update later this week.
IT’S TIME
TO STAND TOGETHER! This is the
opportunity of a generation. Get
involved! How? Be at the NESPA Leadership Meeting on
Thursday, April 30 (next week) 4 PM at the Bothell HS Library. (Let your Building Communicator know you are
coming.)
·
Teachers
and NESPA members are putting up the pink IT’S TIME posters to show support for
our efforts to win improvements from the Legislature, AND for our NESPA
negotiations. Please put up our pink
IT’s TIME poster, now. (Your Building
Communicator distributed them just prior to the Break.)
·
More information will follow. Updates are also available on the NESPA
website at www.nespablog.blogspot.com.
Thank you for all you do!
Jeani Schwenk, NESPA President Kraig Peck, WEA
Staffperson for NESPA and NSEA
