The Snohomish School District has an obligation to provide high-quality education for all of its students. Having a dedicated, well-qualified teacher is the most important factor in the quality of a child's education.

Key Points

· Attracting and retaining high-quality teachers for Snohomish students requires paying competitive salaries and benefits.

· Skyrocketing health care rates are eroding the take-home pay of Snohomish's teachers.

· The Snohomish School District has the money to meet our compensation requests. It's a matter of District priorities and budgeting. A well-qualified staff means a high quality education for Snohomish students.

· We are willing to take a stand for ourselves and for quality education. Our goal is to obtain a satisfactory agreement that Snohomish teachers will be proud to ratify.

Supporting facts:

· Snohomish teachers were patient when the District was in the red. With the passage of a four-year levy and a healthy budget, the District has the money to provide teachers a fair and reasonable contract.

· Health insurance costs are eroding any gains teachers are making. The District must pay its fair share of insurance costs.

· Teacher shortages are becoming more common, especially special education teachers. Surrounding districts recognize this problem and are offering better working conditions and compensation to special education educators. How can Snohomish compete with surrounding districts in attracting and retaining special education teachers?

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