Tacoma School Superintendent Art Jarvis and school board President Kurt Miller joined in ringing the bell at the Central Administration Building in downtown Tacoma before 2:30 p.m., signifying that kids are being called back to school.
Earlier today, Tacoma teachers voted to end a strike that began last week. The vote was 98.9 percent in favor of the new contract – well over the simple majority need to ratify the agreement. Classes will resume Friday.
"The fight is over," said Andy Coons, president of the Tacoma Education Association. "This was not an easy process, but a necessary one."
As they waited for the vote and anticipated the deal would be ratified, some teachers reflected and looked ahead.
“This was the hardest week of our lives, but hopefully it’s worth it,” said Yong Lee, who teaches Korean at Mount Tahoma High School.
Brent Gaspaire, who teaches history and government at Lincoln High School, was glad to see the thorniest contract issue was resolved to the union’s satisfaction: retaining some control over transfers and reassignments, which now are based largely on teacher seniority. Administrators pushed for flexibility to move teachers where they want them.
“I feel like our biggest win was in holding back the subjective language the district was trying to push forward dealing with displacements,” Gaspaire said.
"I just want to get back in class."
Contract highlights: Three-year contract maintains existing class size, existing salary schedule with one less building-optional day. A committee will study and implement a new displacement policy for 2012-13 school year.
MAKE-UP DAYS: Revisions to school calendar to make up for strike
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