SEATTLE, Wash. - Seattle Superintendent Ben Shuldliner is “hopeful” with the latest round of negotiations with the Seattle Education Association as the two sides try to avoid delaying the start of the school year. The current contract ends at 11:59 p.m. September 1. Shuldliner promised updates every two hours on social media.
“We will make sure that it’s clear—either things are going well and continuing too, or maybe we need to think of something else,” Shuldliner said.
“I’m thinking of it like snow days, right? You know you have to make a call around when you’re going to shut a school down or not. Our hope is that we’re going to have some real answer before the end of the night.”
SEA has said that issues of pay for paraprofessionals and office staff are key issues, as well as more support for the district’s special education programs. It comes as the district faces an $87 million budget shortfall.
“What I really want to thank SEA for doing is they understand that [deficit],” Shuldliner said.
SPS is planning to have meals available at all schools for families between 9a.m.-1p.m. If a strike does go through. Shuldliner expects more information to be released about that as the contract expiration nears.
“We do have a series of FAQs and forward facing information I’m just holding off on it because i am so hopeful that i don’t want to freak everyone out,” Shuldliner said.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced the City will open up community centers for childcare and recreation options for parents in the case of a strike. Families will have to register at this link to the city’s website.
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