With teachers walking out on their students and jobs, it leaves one wondering why? Most arguments heard are: “we’ve not had a cost of living adjustment for years,” or “we have to reduce class size,” or “we don’t spend enough on education.”
OK, the first two points conceded. The third point is a moving target, which can be addressed with fiscal responsibility. If one plays the blame game, consider economic history (“The Great Recession”) and who’s held the reigns of state government for decades (Democrats). Let’s not jump into that briar patch. Instead look at teacher demands and see where current efforts fall short.
“We’ve not had a cost of living adjustment for years.”
• The House budget has $230 million for K-12 staff salary increases providing the voter-approved COLA required in I-732.
• The Senate budget makes similar increases, meeting I-732 requirements.
• The average salary of Evergreen School District teachers is $61,885. Insurance and pension benefits valued at $20,743 brings total teacher compensation to over $80,000. One can argue whether this is an appropriate level for a teacher, but it’s significantly higher than the $59,341 median household income of Clark County residents and the $27,681 per capita income.
This looks like a non-issue, what’s next?
“We have to reduce class size.”
• The Senate capital budget includes funding to build 2,100 classrooms, delivering promised class-size reduction goals.
• The House budget has similar investment levels including K-3 class size reduction ($350 million)
• $210 million in higher pension costs – accounting for longer employee lifespan – Includes investments for higher enrollment, inflation, bilingual & special education, gifted education program, and increased costs for levy equalization. All these efforts help reduce class size.
Statewide, Randy Dorn reports a student-teacher ratio of 19 ½ to 1 – seems more than reasonable. The overcrowding must be localized.
“We don’t spend enough on education.”
Here is the legislature’s proposed increases at the end of their regular session. The Senate budget includes $2.7 billion increases in K-12 spending over two years – the largest dollar increase in state history.
• K-12 spending increases by 17.8 percent – the largest percentage increase in 25 years (all other government receives a 6 percent increase).
• Enrollment for low-income early learning increases by 4,000.
• Early child care has new, higher quality standards.
• College tuition reduced an average 25 percent – the first tuition reduction since the 1970s.
The House budget has similar investment level – $2.7 billion. The increase includes:
• $1.3 billion towards McCleary, including K-3 class-size reduction ($350 million), all-day kindergarten ($190 million), books, supplies, and operating costs ($740 million).
• As stated before $210 million in higher pension costs.
Let’s look at one subject you don’t hear striking teachers and the WEA address. A teacher’s strike is Illegal. RCW 41.56.120:
“Right to strike not granted. Nothing contained in this chapter (on union collective bargaining) shall permit or grant any public employee the right to strike or refuse to perform his or her official duties.”
Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s legal opinion: “State and local public employees, including teachers, have no legally protected right to strike.”
If a teacher’s job is to teach, what are we and their students to learn from this illegal strike?
• Cry that you’re not getting what you want, even though you are.
• Do as your union bosses tell you to do without questioning it or thinking for yourselves.
• Kids, it’s OK to break the law when you really want something bad enough.
• Kids, teachers may love you but they’re not above using you as a bargaining chip.
When will it be enough? They are getting everything they are asking for. More this year than they’ve gotten in many years. And yet they are still complaining?
Steven J. Nelson is active in the Clark County political scene. He is a former vice-chair of the Clark County Republican Party and has worked on several successful local campaigns.
