About an hour ago, the district released a statement on the status of contract negotiations. I am running around doing last minute back to school things today, so I'll just repost it here. The statement contains specifics on some issues that so far have been a little vague, including teacher hiring/seniority.
The Tacoma Education Association will meet tonight at 4:30 to review district proposals, and possibly vote on whether or not to authorize a strike.
This morning I reported that the district and union would be negotiating today. Apparently not. :(
From the TPS Facebook crew:
"@Jennifer. Udpate: The TEA notified us this morning that its bargaining team refused to meet with us at 11 a.m. if our lead negotiator could not be present in the room. He was available on speaker phone, and we have six other top administrators on the district bargaining team."
This afternoon, the Tacoma Education Association will meet to discuss the status of their contract negotiations. Representatives of the Union and Tacoma School District met over the weekend for bargaining talks, and will continue to do so today. If no settlement is reached, teachers will meet again the evening of August 31st. (School is scheduled to begin September 1st.)
In the past few weeks, the public dialogue between the Tacoma Education Association and the school district has grown heated (to put it mildly.) Beyond all the emotional rhetoric, however, there are real issues at stake that effect students, teachers, and the district's ability to weather the ongoing economic storm.
Just a little while ago, the Tacoma Education Association posted an update on their website, directed at Dr. Jarvis. I had hoped for some good news, but things are sounding a bit grim:
Are you counting on school starting on time September 1st? Best to have a Plan B ready, just in case.
The Tacoma Education Association and Tacoma Public Schools have yet to agree on terms for a new contract. If a settlement is not reached by the week of August 29th, teachers will vote on whether or not to authorize a strike.
Update from her family's facebook event this morning: "URGENT UPDATE!!!!! - HALEY IS HOME THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR AMAZING ONGOING SUPPORT I LOVE YOU ALL. She had been hiding out with a friend who's mother saw the news broadcast and made her go home!
