Yelm teachers vote to strike on first day of school if no agreement is reached
Yelm educators plan to strike on the first day of school unless Yelm Community Schools agrees to a “fair contract settlement.”
Members of the Yelm Education Association, a teacher’s union, voted on Tuesday to authorize the strike if no tentative agreement is reached. The motion passed with 97.5% of the vote. The first day of school is Tuesday, Sept. 3.
Kat Cullum, YEA co-president and middle school teacher, said educators want “manageable class sizes” and time to work with students to “provide quality education.”
“Our community expects our district to keep high quality educators and attract new ones,” Cullum said in a news release. “In order to do so, we need a fair contract that prioritizes student success.”
News of the strike authorization comes after the district cut a significant number of its staff this summer. The cuts were intended to make up a $15 million budget deficit that was left by voters’ defeat of a local property tax measure, The Olympian previously reported.
The association says educators are struggling to get the support and relief they need to do their jobs “safely and effectively.”
“Yelm Community Schools administrators have refused to offer educators a fair deal, one that would secure competitive compensation for Yelm educators, and equitable class sizes,” the association said in its news release.
The YEA release describes the proposals by Yelm Community Schools this way:
- Cutting daily planning time for elementary teachers.
- Eliminating overload payments.
- Refusing to put any limits on special education and counseling caseloads.
- Eliminating counselor positions and making it harder for them to support students.
- Refusing to pass through state-funded salary increases.
- Refusing to ensure emergency call buttons are in every classroom.
Yelm Superintendent Christopher Woods did not respond to an inquiry from The Olympian. Instead, Teri Melone, the district’s communications director, shared a prepared statement.
Melone said the district has engaged with the teacher’s union to address a range of important issues.
“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have not yet reached an agreement; and the union has authorized a possible strike,” Melone said. “We fully recognize how deeply this affects our students and families. We are committed to working diligently to find a resolution that respects the needs and concerns of our teachers while also ensuring that our students receive the quality education they deserve.”
Melone said the district is working as quickly as possible to reach an agreement.
“We value our teachers and understand their vital role in the success of our students, and we are striving to find common ground that benefits everyone involved,” Melone said.
YEA represents about 350 certified educators in the Yelm School District, according to the release. A state-appointed mediator is working with the association and district.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 11:43 AM.
