Snohomish Education Association - Ken Schram Komo 4 Editorial

September 10, 2002

Dear Snohomish Parents and Community,

Snohomish teachers would like to talk with you directly about our concerns regarding recent contract negotiations with the school district. No media. No district spin. This letter comes from the hearts of the Snohomish teachers who love teaching your children.

In the days preceding and during the current Snohomish Education Association (SEA) strike, you have received letters from the district that presented only its side of the issues being negotiated. These letters omitted information in a way that could mislead you. This letter will counter those points and present the teachers' side of the issues.

Misleading claims
One misleading claim by the district is that the SEA bargaining team broke off negotiations. In fact, the teachers' union has never broken off negotiations. The district told the state mediator it couldn't offer any compromise; under those conditions, returning to the negotiating table is not productive.

Another misleading claim is that an independent financial review found the district's financial positions in contract negotiations to be reasonable. The district did not explain that the reviewers did not gather their data independently. Instead, they used figures provided by the district that reflected its position.

The SEA bargaining team has come to the table with many compromises. They have waited for a district team that was late or unprepared and offered no compromises.

The last district letter mailed to parents was dated Thursday, September 5; it included information about SEA's position that is no longer accurate since SEA presented significant compromises during weekend negotiations. The district chose to spend your tax dollars despite the fact it knew negotiations were scheduled for the very next day.