Possible Teacher Strike

After months and months of trying to work out a fair contract, there is a very strong possibility that the teachers at Hannah's school, as well as the other twenty six schools in our district, will strike at the end of January.

Apparently the State of California has been giving the school district money over the last couple of years and the school district has failed to pass on the raises. The teachers aren't negotiating for the current school year, but are negotiating for the 2004-2005 school year contract. Studies say our teachers are the lowest paid in all of the surrounding school districts. I've volunteered in the classroom and whole heartedly agree that the teachers deserve every penny they are asking for. The amount of patience and stamina the teachers have is amazing. I'm exhausted at the end of my 4 hours of volunteering. LOL.

Parents are currently planning a strike of their own. A strike to hit the school district in the pocket book by asking parents to keep their children home from school on Monday. The district looses money for every child not in school. Afterschool the past couple of days, and even before school, parents have been passing out information and seeking support for the "Parent Strike". It's hoped that if enough people keep their students home from school, and the district looses out on all that money, then perhaps the district will come to their senses and grant the teachers what they are asking for.

If the Parent Strike does not help, and the teachers do strike, there aren't enough substitute teachers to fill the twenty seven schools in our district. In that case, students will be gathered in the cafeteria to simply be supervised. Many parents have already expressed they won't send thier children in such conditions.

It's really tough to drive to school in the mornings and see teachers picketing back and forth around the parking lot. This morning not only were our teachers out, but teachers were picketing at one of the schools we pass on the way to school.

I think we may keep Hannah home on Monday, to show our support. But if the teachers do strike, we'll probably still send Hannah to school, and I'll go with her to help in any way that I can. While we've been told the district can't retaliate at those who keep their students home, the Lord opened the door for Hannah to get into this school and we sure don't want to jeopardize her continued enrollment there. And depending on when the teachers do strike, it might not affect Hannah and her classmates as their last day of school before going off track is Friday, February 2nd.