Tacoma Public Schools closed before they opened today, as teachers continued to walk picket lines despite a judge’s order to end their strike that began Tuesday.
School had been scheduled to open on a two-hour delay, while the school district had asked teachers to report to work at their usual school start time.
Tacoma teachers plan to have a general membership meeting at 1:30 today at the Tacoma Dome.
About 7:20 a.m., the school district announced that schools would remain closed due to insufficient staffing. Despite the turmoil, talks between the union and the district are scheduled to take place this afternoon.
At least 18 teachers were walking a picket line at Jason Lee Middle School this morning. When the group was asked if any of them planned to work today, no one replied.
Dave Baughman, a Stadium High School teacher picketing at Jason Lee, said he planned to be on the picket line after the scheduled 7:30 a.m. start at Stadium.
He said the temporary restraining order issued by Judge Bryan Chushcoff Wednesday names several teachers and two staff people. He said they would be reporting to work.
“Each teacher is going to make a determination as to what they’re doing,” Baughman said.
Read a copy of the restraining order.
School district spokesman Dan Voelpel said the district was “evaluating all our options this morning.” He could not say early today whether the school district would ask Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff to intervene.
The judge had scheduled a hearing Friday afternoon to determine whether teachers complied with his order issued Wednesday.
The school district said it sent copies of the judge’s order to all its employees yesterday.
“This is between TEA members and the judge,” Voelpel said.
Lowell Elementary teacher Richelle Cross said she would probably stay on the picket lines today.
She said she hasn’t been a union activist for most of her 20-year teaching career. But she said the school district’s negotiating position on teacher transfers and reassignments has pushed her into it.
She said she wants contract language that is “concise and measurable, so that teacher to teacher, administrator to administrator and building to building, decisions regarding transfer and reassignment can be made fairly.”
While several drivers honked in apparent support of picketing teachers this morning, one parent said he is unhappy with the situation.
Michael Hinkley said his son wants to be back in class.
“If money wasn’t involved, I would support it,” he said. “But every time they go on strike, money is always involved.”
The district notified families via automated message. On its website the district posted this statement:
"The decision has just been made that school has been canceled today, Thursday, September 15th. All Tacoma Public Schools are closed today due to insufficient school staffing. "Yesterday, Pierce County Superior Court Judge Bryan Chushcoff issued a temporary restraining order against the strike by members of the Tacoma Education Association – ordering teachers back into their classrooms. "We understand that this time of uncertainty has been difficult, and we ask for your patience as we work to resolve the outstanding labor issues."
Sarah Purdin, a Wilson High School teacher, said the school district was "incredibly irresponsible" when it called parents last night to say classes would take place today.
"It was bullying in every sense," she said. "We voted to strike; we need to vote to un-strike."
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