Tacoma teacher strike cost estimate: $566,000

The Tacoma teachers strike lasted eight days in September, but the school district is still tallying up the impacts, both financial and otherwise.

Tacoma Public Schools’ most recent estimate of strike-related costs is about $566,000 – including more than $300,000 in labor costs and more than $200,000 in supplies and operating costs, according to district documents. But $202,000 of that is listed as a potential – not actual – loss.

The total doesn’t include the cost of one item the teachers union raised as an issue in the strike: the district’s hiring of an outside consulting firm, Seattle-based Washington Employers Association, to help negotiate on behalf of the district.

The union objected, saying the outside agent had no direct stake in the outcome. The district justified the cost, saying that several employee contracts were being negotiated simultaneously, that the district’s human resources department was short-staffed, and that the relationship between the union and the HR department was strained from the outset.

STILL ADDING UP

Through Sept. 30, the district estimates the cost of Washington Employers’ work was $57,885. Yet to be added is the cost to finish compiling agreements reached during contract talks into a final document.

There will probably be one more bill from Washington Employers, said district spokesman Dan Voelpel.

According to the district, costs related to the strike include:

• $122,362 for teachers and other certificated employees who chose to report for work during the strike.

• More than $50,000 in training costs for paraeducators, food service workers and bus drivers. The district gave these workers, who tend to be among the lowest-paid school employees, the option to earn money for training sessions during the strike.

• Another $30,798 for paraeducators, $10,029 for food service workers, $9,574 for bus drivers and other costs for other employee groups who came to work during the strike. Bus drivers, for instance, reported on Sept. 15, the day after a Pierce County judge ordered teachers back to work. The drivers completed their routes to ensure that no students were left stranded at bus stops. The district canceled classes that morning when it became apparent most teachers would not report to work.

• $7,900 in food either spoiled or donated to the Emergency Food Network to prevent more food waste.

• $4,980 in outside legal fees and court costs.

• A potential loss of $202,000 in funding lost due to required documentation for special education students being filed late after the strike.

The strike prompted the School Board to declare an emergency and suspend its meetings during the strike. Board members temporarily transferred their powers to Superintendent Art Jarvis until the strike was over, and also suspended their regular meeting schedule during the eight-day walkout.

The purpose for both moves, the board said, was to allow the regular business of the district to be conducted speedily.

BACK TO NORMAL

The board took back its normal authority Sept. 22, and board members at their Oct. 13 meeting ratified a list of actions that Jarvis had taken during the strike. They include:

• Approval of travel requests for district employees to attend conferences. The trips were mostly funded with federal dollars. The travel approval included a request from Jarvis for a February trip to Houston, where he plans to attend a national conference hosted by the American Association of School Administrators. The cost of the trip, estimated at $2,600, will be paid from the superintendent’s budget.

• Approval of personnel moves, including retirements, resignations, reductions in force and new hires.

• Approval of an agreement between the school district and Safe Streets to operate the Youth Leading Change program, which offers students leadership training and community-service opportunities. The one-year contract is for $50,000.

Debbie Cafazzo: 253-597-8635
debbie.cafazzo@thenewstribune.com