A Pierce County Superior Court judge said in court this morning he might authorize the Tacoma School District to hire replacement workers if striking teachers do not return to work as he ordered Wednesday. In the meantime, it was announced that there will be no school for Tacoma students again Tuesday.
Judge Bryan Chushcoff suggested such an authorization might convince the vast majority of the teachers, who have not shown up to work since Sept. 12, to return to their classrooms while their negotiators try to reach a contract agreement with the district.
“I’m seriously considering doing that,” the judge said.
Chushcoff said, should he choose to grant such authorization, it would be up to the district to decide whether it wanted to hire temporary replacements, permanent replacements or come up with another plan altogether.
“Those are all possibilities,” the judge said.
Tacoma School District spokesman Dan Voelpel said that the district did not request hiring replacement workers or mention it in court. "We want our teachers back in the classroom, not replacements," Voelpel said.
The judge's comments came during a hearing to iron out language of another order that requires teachers who haven’t complied with the judge’s back-to-work order to come into court to explain themselves.
The first batch of those people – including board members of the Tacoma Education Association – is scheduled in court Sept. 27.
The district will be mailing to the other nearly 2,000 teachers walking the picket lines notice of the judge’s intent to hold contempt hearings against them should they not return to work before Sept. 27, either with a new contract or in compliance with his orders.
“I urge everyone to go back to work,” Chushcoff said.
The judge signed a temporary restraining order Wednesday that requires the teachers to return to work while negotiations continue. Most teachers have refused to do so.
The district’s attorney, Shannon McMinimee, told Chushcoff this morning the teachers were in “flagrant defiance” of his order.
McMinimee said outside court it’s clear the judge is frustrated with teachers for defying his order.
“He’s thinking creatively to provide the district with additional remedies and for himself to have additional remedies to address the noncompliance with his order,” she said. “It sounds like the court is not pleased with the continued violation of his order.”
The union’s attorney, Tyler Firkins, said outside court the Tacoma Education Association would challenge any attempt to replace its members.
Staff writer Debbie Cafazzo contributed to this report.
Copy of Judge Chushcoff's order
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