Hello Freshparents:
I hope that you and your freshman made it through the first week of school with flying colors. As you will see with all the information below, we’re on a ride that won’t stop until the end of June.
Spirit Week
Football BBQ and Game
Disco Dance
Back-to-School Night
Student Volunteer Opportunity
Picture Make-Up Day
PTSA Meeting
District School Calendars
Housekeeping
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Spirit Week
The first Spirit Week of the year is September 22 through September 26. Each day has a theme and the students may choose to participate or not, although they might be surprised at how many students do dress up. Here are the themes for next week:
Monday – Mustache Monday (maybe use a washable marker?!)
Tuesday – Rock Star Day (or, Mustache Tuesday if your student used a Sharpie on Monday!)
Wednesday – Safety Day
Thursday – Ugly Sweater Day
Friday – Red and Gold Day (everyone can do this one!)
The Welcome Back/Fall Sports assembly is Friday, September 26.
Spirit Week culminates in ….
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Football BBQ - Class of 2009 Fundraiser
Come tailgate and help the Senior class at the same time before the Newport-Skyline football game on Friday, September 26. The menu includes: burgers (3 kinds), salad, soda, chips, and a cookie all for only $10 per ticket or $30 for 4 tickets. Dinner is served from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
The last day to purchase tickets is Tuesday, September 23. You may purchase tickets online at: http://www.nhsgradknight2009.myevent.com/ or at the GradKnight 2009 table during Open House on September 23. Beat Skyline!! The game starts at 7:00 pm.
The Newport-Skyline football game is followed by ….
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Disco Dance
The Disco Dance is on Friday, September 26, from 9:00 pm until midnight following the home football game. Many students will dress according to the disco theme but it is not a requirement for entry. There may be “dates” going to the dance but mostly students will go in groups of friends. In spite of our students’ insistence that “everyone” goes to this dance and stays until midnight, you may be confident that not all parents permit this. You will not be alone if you decline permission to this dance or arrange to pick up your student earlier than midnight. Tickets are on sale next week during lunch until Thursday, September 25. No tickets will be sold on Friday or at the door! Guest passes for non-Newport students are online at: http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/activities2/index.htm and must be turned in no later than Wednesday, September 24 at 3:15 pm. No faxes, paper passes only.
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Back-to-School Night
This event, scheduled for Tuesday, September 23, has several components – Grade-Level Meeting, Open House to Meet Teachers, Classroom Bucks Fundraiser, and Shopping!
Grade-Level Meeting
Parents and guardians from each class will meet in four different places around the school. Locations for these meetings will be posted in the Commons when you arrive. This meeting is scheduled for 6:15 pm until 6:55 pm and it will be conducted by one of the freshman counselors. Plan to arrive early and try to carpool with your neighbors to keep the mayhem in the parking lot to a minimum.
Open House
From 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm you will follow your child’s class schedule – 10 minutes per period and a 5-minute passing period. Wear comfortable shoes and expect to climb stairs and cover a lot of ground! I highly recommend that you find the September 2008 issue of the Knightline and turn to page 5. There you will find a schedule outline. Have your student fill it out and use this during the Open House. Volunteers will have class schedules to hand out that evening but there will be very, very long lines that may delay you from getting to the Grade-Level Meeting or your student’s classrooms. Volunteers will also have school maps to distribute. The purpose of the Open House is for parents to meet teachers, hear about course curricula and assessments, learn about classroom expectations and procedures, and receive contact information for the teachers. As you can imagine, 10 minutes is barely enough time to share this information. Open House is not the time to ask questions that relate specifically to your child; please contact the teacher after the event to schedule a meeting.
Classroom Bucks
During 2nd period of Open House, a student volunteer will visit each classroom to collect cash and checks for this PTSA fundraiser. The goal this year is $20,000 and every dollar raised will go directly into Newport classrooms in the form of teacher grants to supplement supplies and equipment to enhance curriculum. Page 7 of the September 2008 Knightline newsletter displays a form that you may return to the PTSA at a later date if necessary.
Shopping
There will be many tables set up throughout the Commons with representatives from the PTSA and various sports and clubs. You may visit these tables before, during, and after the events mentioned above. If you already joined PTSA, pick up your school directory and membership card. If you haven’t joined yet, get a membership form on page 4 of the September 2008 Knightline or at the PTSA table at Back-to-School Night. The other groups will have information to hand out or various booster items to sell – blankets, sweaters, license plate covers, water bottles, etc. – so don’t forget your checkbook!
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Student Volunteer Opportunity - Back-to-School Night
Your student may volunteer to work at Back-to-School Night from 5:45 pm to 8:45pm by signing up in the main office. Student volunteers will earn three hours of community service.
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Picture Make-Up Day
Picture make-up day is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24, beginning at 12:30 pm in the Commons. Your student may pick up an order envelope in the main office. Students who should participate in this: those who missed Check In Day and will have pictures taken for the first time, those who do not yet have a picture ID. ALL students, whether or not they order pictures or participate in ASB must have a picture ID. This is not for picture re-takes. Picture re-takes will be scheduled in October and your student will return their photo packet for a re-take. More information will follow.
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PTSA Meeting
The first PTSA meeting of the year will be held on Monday, September 29 at 7:00 pm in the school library. All parents and PTSA members are welcome to attend.
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District School Calendars
The District school calendars for the current year and the next two years were approved this past Tuesday. You may download these calendars at the following sites:
2008/2009 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200809schoolcalendar.pdf
2009/2010 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/200910SchoolCalendar.pdf
2010/2011 Calendar:
http://www.bsd405.org/portals/0/aboutBSD/schoolcalendar/201011SchoolCalendar.pdf
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Housekeeping
Thanks to all the parents who responded to my housekeeping email to help me clean up the mailing list. At any time during the next four years, please do not hesitate to ask me to add or delete an email address. If you know of another freshparent who does not receive my emails, please share my address and let him/her decide whether or not to contact me. Don’t forget that I post all of my emails on the class blog -- http://newport-ptsa-2012.blogspot.com/. You can get there by going to the Newport PTSA website, click on “Resources” on the left hand side and then go to Class of 2012 blog on the right side.
Thanks for reading this far!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
First Day of School!
Good Evening Freshparents:
The official word is in – Tomorrow, September 15, is the first day of school.
Class Schedules
Freshmen may pick up their final class schedule in the Commons starting at 7:00 am tomorrow.
Schedule Changes
Counselors will be available for appointments starting the first day of school. Go to the Counseling Center and make an appointment with the secretary. Continue to attend classes on your schedule; the counselor will call you out of class to deal with the schedule problem.
Bus Pass and Lockers
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Spirit Week & Disco Dance
Spirit Week has been rescheduled for September 22 through 26 and the Disco Dance will be Friday, September 26. More information to come.
The official word is in – Tomorrow, September 15, is the first day of school.
Class Schedules
Freshmen may pick up their final class schedule in the Commons starting at 7:00 am tomorrow.
Schedule Changes
Counselors will be available for appointments starting the first day of school. Go to the Counseling Center and make an appointment with the secretary. Continue to attend classes on your schedule; the counselor will call you out of class to deal with the schedule problem.
Bus Pass and Lockers
Volunteers will be outside the office at lunch during the first week of school to hand out bus passes and assign lockers.
Spirit Week & Disco Dance
Spirit Week has been rescheduled for September 22 through 26 and the Disco Dance will be Friday, September 26. More information to come.
Bellevue School Board Meeting
Hello Freshparents:
Less than an hour after I sent today’s earlier email, I was notified that the School Board meeting has been changed to tomorrow. I regret the confusion and any inconvenience it may have caused. This is the official announcement sent out by the district:
CANCELLATION of the Tuesday, September 9, 2008, Special Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Because the special meeting notice for Tuesday’s meeting did not provide that public testimony could be heard before the Board considered taking action related to the current BEA strike, and the Board was interested in hearing such testimony; the Board has cancelled this meeting to schedule a meeting where that is possible at a venue large enough to accommodate those who wish to attend.
SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Directors – Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Sammamish High School, Performing Arts Center, for the purpose of:
The Board hearing public testimony concerning and the Board taking action regarding collective bargaining with the Bellevue Education Association and potential legal action related to the current BEA strike; and to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel matters relating to agency enforcement actions and/or potential litigation.
Less than an hour after I sent today’s earlier email, I was notified that the School Board meeting has been changed to tomorrow. I regret the confusion and any inconvenience it may have caused. This is the official announcement sent out by the district:
CANCELLATION of the Tuesday, September 9, 2008, Special Meeting of the Board of Directors.
Because the special meeting notice for Tuesday’s meeting did not provide that public testimony could be heard before the Board considered taking action related to the current BEA strike, and the Board was interested in hearing such testimony; the Board has cancelled this meeting to schedule a meeting where that is possible at a venue large enough to accommodate those who wish to attend.
SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Directors – Wednesday, September 10, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. at Sammamish High School, Performing Arts Center, for the purpose of:
The Board hearing public testimony concerning and the Board taking action regarding collective bargaining with the Bellevue Education Association and potential legal action related to the current BEA strike; and to meet in executive session to discuss with legal counsel matters relating to agency enforcement actions and/or potential litigation.
Strike Update
Hello Freshparents:
Based on the questions the class liaisons have fielded in the past few days, I wanted to write to clear up some concerns.
www.bsd405.org and www.bellevueea.org continue to be the recommended information sources for what’s happening with the strike.
Picture make ups, Spirit Week, Disco Dance, and any NON-sports-related activities previously scheduled for this week have been suspended. Once school starts we’ll have more information about when and if these activities will be rescheduled.
Many parents have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs and wonder what you can do to promote a resolution to the strike. I will reprint a recent letter sent by PTSA leadership:
To the Bellevue PTSA Council Members:
Teachers have decided not to vote on the offer that the Bellevue District offered today. No schedule has been set to have a vote.
Schools have been closed six days, and there is no clear end in sight. This is not good for our students or our district. It is time we sent a message to both the BEA and the School District to get this settled, and get schools open. NOW.
Please plan on attending the special School Board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:30 [pm] at the Bellevue School District Office.
This is your opportunity to come together with the community and voice your support for our students. We are not there to yell or disrupt or to confront anyone. We are one community. Join your fellow parents in the parking lot starting at 7:00. We can then proceed to the meeting when it begins. W[ear] a basic black shirt, so we can look like a group (if you want).
Please get out the word to your members through email, phone calls, pony express, whatever it takes. I'd suggest Facebook, but I haven't got a clue how it works. If your children want to join us, they can - this is the PTSA, after all.
PTA takes no position on the issues. That is for the negotiating teams. But we take a very strong position that strikes are bad for kids. They are missing valuable time. We need [to] make sure our voice is heard.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow!
Janet Suppes
Bellevue PTSA Council President
janetPTA@gmail.com
425-445-3707
Based on the questions the class liaisons have fielded in the past few days, I wanted to write to clear up some concerns.
www.bsd405.org and www.bellevueea.org continue to be the recommended information sources for what’s happening with the strike.
Picture make ups, Spirit Week, Disco Dance, and any NON-sports-related activities previously scheduled for this week have been suspended. Once school starts we’ll have more information about when and if these activities will be rescheduled.
Many parents have expressed frustration with the current state of affairs and wonder what you can do to promote a resolution to the strike. I will reprint a recent letter sent by PTSA leadership:
To the Bellevue PTSA Council Members:
Teachers have decided not to vote on the offer that the Bellevue District offered today. No schedule has been set to have a vote.
Schools have been closed six days, and there is no clear end in sight. This is not good for our students or our district. It is time we sent a message to both the BEA and the School District to get this settled, and get schools open. NOW.
Please plan on attending the special School Board meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, September 9th, at 7:30 [pm] at the Bellevue School District Office.
This is your opportunity to come together with the community and voice your support for our students. We are not there to yell or disrupt or to confront anyone. We are one community. Join your fellow parents in the parking lot starting at 7:00. We can then proceed to the meeting when it begins. W[ear] a basic black shirt, so we can look like a group (if you want).
Please get out the word to your members through email, phone calls, pony express, whatever it takes. I'd suggest Facebook, but I haven't got a clue how it works. If your children want to join us, they can - this is the PTSA, after all.
PTA takes no position on the issues. That is for the negotiating teams. But we take a very strong position that strikes are bad for kids. They are missing valuable time. We need [to] make sure our voice is heard.
Thanks, and see you tomorrow!
Janet Suppes
Bellevue PTSA Council President
janetPTA@gmail.com
425-445-3707
Strike Update and Other News
Hello Freshparents:
Teacher Strike
The strike continues: there will be no school on Friday, September 5.
Strike Resources:
BEA information is at http://www.bellevueea.org/
BSD information is at http://www.bsd405.org/
The State and National PTA both advocate for children to be back in the classroom.
Athletics
As previously reported, sports and sports-related activities (band, cheer, etc.) will continue to operate as scheduled. Competition for Newport teams starts as early as tomorrow. These are some weekend sports events:
Friday, September 5 – Varsity Football vs. Woodinville 7:00 @ Woodinville (Pop Cheney Stadium)
Saturday, September 6 – all day Varsity Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Newport HS
Saturday, September 6 – all day JV Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Interlake HS
You will find the schedule for all fall sports at http://www.digitalsports.com/school/id/19172/page/athletics.aspx
Spirit Ware
I have attached an order form for Freshman Class Sweats. Proceeds from the sale of this apparel go to the Senior Class for their year-end celebrations. Starting next year, the Class of 2012 will be able to influence the design of their class apparel and proceeds will come to our class. When our kids are Seniors, they will design the new Freshman sweats and reap the benefits of sales. What goes around comes around!
Another source of spirit ware is Prep Sportswear, located at http://www.prepsportswear.com. Choose the “Teams” tab and find the team store under WASHINGTON and BELLEVUE. At this site you can pick a clothing item and then personalize it by color, size, style, sport, graduation year, etc. Proceeds from sales at this site go to the Newport football team.
Volunteer Opportunity
The Bellevue Schools Foundation needs volunteers for a phonathon mailing:
Friday, September 5 between 8:30am and 3pm
Monday, September 8 between 8:30am and 3:30pm
Tuesday, September 9 between 8:30am and 5pm
Please respond to Christena Coutsoubos, Christena@bsfdn.org. Let her know who can help out and when – first come, first served. Christena needs around 10 to 15 volunteers each day – adults as well as students. If you can help for only an hour or two, she’ll take you!
Teacher Strike
The strike continues: there will be no school on Friday, September 5.
Strike Resources:
BEA information is at http://www.bellevueea.org/
BSD information is at http://www.bsd405.org/
The State and National PTA both advocate for children to be back in the classroom.
Athletics
As previously reported, sports and sports-related activities (band, cheer, etc.) will continue to operate as scheduled. Competition for Newport teams starts as early as tomorrow. These are some weekend sports events:
Friday, September 5 – Varsity Football vs. Woodinville 7:00 @ Woodinville (Pop Cheney Stadium)
Saturday, September 6 – all day Varsity Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Newport HS
Saturday, September 6 – all day JV Volleyball King Co Jamboree @ Interlake HS
You will find the schedule for all fall sports at http://www.digitalsports.com/school/id/19172/page/athletics.aspx
Spirit Ware
I have attached an order form for Freshman Class Sweats. Proceeds from the sale of this apparel go to the Senior Class for their year-end celebrations. Starting next year, the Class of 2012 will be able to influence the design of their class apparel and proceeds will come to our class. When our kids are Seniors, they will design the new Freshman sweats and reap the benefits of sales. What goes around comes around!
Another source of spirit ware is Prep Sportswear, located at http://www.prepsportswear.com. Choose the “Teams” tab and find the team store under WASHINGTON and BELLEVUE. At this site you can pick a clothing item and then personalize it by color, size, style, sport, graduation year, etc. Proceeds from sales at this site go to the Newport football team.
Volunteer Opportunity
The Bellevue Schools Foundation needs volunteers for a phonathon mailing:
Friday, September 5 between 8:30am and 3pm
Monday, September 8 between 8:30am and 3:30pm
Tuesday, September 9 between 8:30am and 5pm
Please respond to Christena Coutsoubos, Christena@bsfdn.org. Let her know who can help out and when – first come, first served. Christena needs around 10 to 15 volunteers each day – adults as well as students. If you can help for only an hour or two, she’ll take you!
Strike Update
The strike continues and the District announced recently that there will be no school on Thursday, September 4.
There IS Band Practice this evening. Chuck Johnson is having email troubles and asked for our help getting the word out.
Sports activities will continue as scheduled. Please refer to http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/index.html (school and athletics calendar are in the pull-down menu).
Please visit both the District’s and the Union’s websites to find what progress has occurred and what each side says about the issues. Should you still have questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to research them for you.
· District: www.bsd405.org
· Union: www.bellevueea.org
Rather than take sides and prolong the strike, we choose to urge both sides to come to a settlement, and get our students back in class. Students are impacted by not being in class and any days missed will need to be made up.
There IS Band Practice this evening. Chuck Johnson is having email troubles and asked for our help getting the word out.
Sports activities will continue as scheduled. Please refer to http://schools.bsd405.org/nhs/homepage/index.html (school and athletics calendar are in the pull-down menu).
Please visit both the District’s and the Union’s websites to find what progress has occurred and what each side says about the issues. Should you still have questions feel free to ask and I’ll try to research them for you.
· District: www.bsd405.org
· Union: www.bellevueea.org
Rather than take sides and prolong the strike, we choose to urge both sides to come to a settlement, and get our students back in class. Students are impacted by not being in class and any days missed will need to be made up.
Strike Announcement -- September 1, 2008
Many of you are now aware from the local news channels that the strike is on in the Bellevue School District. There will be no classes at Newport until further notice. The only activities going on at school are related to sports teams, including a parent meeting at 7:00 pm Tuesday evening in the gym. There seems to be some confusion about picking up class schedules at school tomorrow morning – this activity will occur on the first day of school, whenever that may be. Any days missed due to the strike will need to be made up.
Below are two messages:
The first is from the State PTA about its position on the strike and recommended action.
The second message is from BSD stating the facts of the negotiations (edited to facts only.)
I strongly encourage you to research what both sides are saying about the issues. You can visit http://www.bsd405.org/ for the district's side, and http://www.bellevueea.org/ for the union's side. If you have any questions, please contact me and I’ll try to research them for you.
Mary Kate Uribe
PTSA Liaison Class of 2012
From Kelly Munn, our Region 2 Legislation Chair (Kelly has good advice for us because she was active in PTA in Issaquah back when their teachers went on strike. Much of her advice was earned the hard way – through experience):
Don’t support one side over another. For the most part we know and like our teachers. For many of us, it’s instinctive to help the people that directly help our children. Don’t do it. It will prolong the strike. The more support one side gets, the more entrenched the strike will become, the longer the strike will last. The community needs to say “resolve the strike now, it’s not good for children” repeatedly, and to both sides.
The WSPTA has a position on strikes – that they are not good for children. See below. Consistently repeat this message to everyone.
If you distribute information, distribute information from both sides. Remember that this is a strike and that the information WILL BE biased on both sides, sometimes it will be out and out lies, other times it will be sins of omissions. The community does not have a seat at the bargaining table and therefore we don’t really understand what is being negotiated. Both sides will spin the information to their advantage. We will never really understand what is being negotiated.
Don’t bring donuts to the picket lines. The teachers will take it as “support” and it makes them feel supported, don’t take donuts to the admin office either – it does the same to them. We speak for kids, and strikes are not good for kids, we need a strike to end as quickly as possible.
If money is one of the problems, money is not a local issue, it’s a statewide issue. Blame the lack of state education funding. The state does not provide enough money to our communities. Bellevue is perceived as a “wealthy” district, and is wealthy in some areas, but in terms of per pupil funding Bellevue is “middle of the pack” in funding, even with its high levy lid. The state needs to adequately fund school districts and this includes adequately funding teachers. This is not a local school district problem, it’s a state wide funding problem.
Do not believe what you hear. Although leaders, the press, etc. will say that the dispute is about “money” or about “curriculum” or it’s about teachers being “valued”, that is rarely what is actually being negotiated. This is why it’s better for the community to consistently say “strikes hurt children.” We don’t really know what is going on, and the information will be biased at best from both sides.
There is a normal course for a strike to run through. There may be personal attacks on the highest levels of leadership. There may be suggestions that the budget can be balanced with the “reserve fund” (when those funds run out your school district will have to make cuts). The school district may be giving too little information which adds significantly more confusion to the community. Teachers may be concerned that they are “not valued as the professionals that they are” These are all things that are said in most teachers strikes.
Help the school community to repair itself after the strike. Thank the teachers for getting back to work, thank the administrators for making a deal. Recruit people to go to Olympia to work on more funding for schools across the state. Work together with administrators, teachers and parents towards something positive.
UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 18.6
Resolution, 1986
Revised, 2006
Whereas, The Washington State PTA has a purpose “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, spiritual education”; and,
Whereas, Quality Education is a high priority issue for the Washington State PTA; and, Whereas, Washington State citizens have historically valued the reliable delivery of vital services and the orderly management of public institutions including fire and police services and public schools, and,
Whereas, The Washington State PTA also holds that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and strikes is detrimental to the best interests of the children and
families affected by those actions, and, Whereas, The Washington State PTA believes that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and/or strikes is often detrimental to the best interest of the children and families affected by those actions. While acknowledging that more state resources must be committed to the educational process in the State of Washington, including higher salaries for educational employees: therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA shall work to produce conditions with regard to the collective bargaining process which will consistently produce, in a timely manner, labor agreements negotiated and fully embraced by the direct parties thereto and which will not cause disruption to the school calendar; and be it further
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Oxrieder, Ann (C Ann)" <OxriederA@bsd405.org>
Date: September 1, 2008 6:09:20 PM PDT
To: "Janet Suppes" <janetpta@gmail.com>
Subject: strike update -- please share
Bellevue Schools are closed until further notice.
The Bellevue teachers’ union has announced a strike against the Bellevue School District starting Tuesday, September 2. Because of the strike, all District schools are closed until further notice.
. . Negotiations continue with the assistance of a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission. . . .
The strike and its impact will be an agenda item at the School Board’s regular meeting, Tuesday, September 2, at 4:30 PM.
This information will be updated regularly.
Will there be childcare?
Children already enrolled in the District’s childcare program may sign up for fee-supported services at their regular sites. Full-day Head Start will also be on its regular schedule. Half-day pre-school and half-day Head Start will be cancelled. Additional childcare options are available. Access News Release >
Will there be school sports?
School sports and related practices will continue on their regular schedules. Practices will occur at the same times they would occur if schools were in session. No special practices schedules will be permitted.
Will community groups be able to use District facilities and fields?Community use of District facilities and athletic fields will continue for the time being.
Ann Oxrieder
Assistant to the Superintendent
Bellevue School District
425 456-4127
Below are two messages:
The first is from the State PTA about its position on the strike and recommended action.
The second message is from BSD stating the facts of the negotiations (edited to facts only.)
I strongly encourage you to research what both sides are saying about the issues. You can visit http://www.bsd405.org/ for the district's side, and http://www.bellevueea.org/ for the union's side. If you have any questions, please contact me and I’ll try to research them for you.
Mary Kate Uribe
PTSA Liaison Class of 2012
From Kelly Munn, our Region 2 Legislation Chair (Kelly has good advice for us because she was active in PTA in Issaquah back when their teachers went on strike. Much of her advice was earned the hard way – through experience):
Don’t support one side over another. For the most part we know and like our teachers. For many of us, it’s instinctive to help the people that directly help our children. Don’t do it. It will prolong the strike. The more support one side gets, the more entrenched the strike will become, the longer the strike will last. The community needs to say “resolve the strike now, it’s not good for children” repeatedly, and to both sides.
The WSPTA has a position on strikes – that they are not good for children. See below. Consistently repeat this message to everyone.
If you distribute information, distribute information from both sides. Remember that this is a strike and that the information WILL BE biased on both sides, sometimes it will be out and out lies, other times it will be sins of omissions. The community does not have a seat at the bargaining table and therefore we don’t really understand what is being negotiated. Both sides will spin the information to their advantage. We will never really understand what is being negotiated.
Don’t bring donuts to the picket lines. The teachers will take it as “support” and it makes them feel supported, don’t take donuts to the admin office either – it does the same to them. We speak for kids, and strikes are not good for kids, we need a strike to end as quickly as possible.
If money is one of the problems, money is not a local issue, it’s a statewide issue. Blame the lack of state education funding. The state does not provide enough money to our communities. Bellevue is perceived as a “wealthy” district, and is wealthy in some areas, but in terms of per pupil funding Bellevue is “middle of the pack” in funding, even with its high levy lid. The state needs to adequately fund school districts and this includes adequately funding teachers. This is not a local school district problem, it’s a state wide funding problem.
Do not believe what you hear. Although leaders, the press, etc. will say that the dispute is about “money” or about “curriculum” or it’s about teachers being “valued”, that is rarely what is actually being negotiated. This is why it’s better for the community to consistently say “strikes hurt children.” We don’t really know what is going on, and the information will be biased at best from both sides.
There is a normal course for a strike to run through. There may be personal attacks on the highest levels of leadership. There may be suggestions that the budget can be balanced with the “reserve fund” (when those funds run out your school district will have to make cuts). The school district may be giving too little information which adds significantly more confusion to the community. Teachers may be concerned that they are “not valued as the professionals that they are” These are all things that are said in most teachers strikes.
Help the school community to repair itself after the strike. Thank the teachers for getting back to work, thank the administrators for making a deal. Recruit people to go to Olympia to work on more funding for schools across the state. Work together with administrators, teachers and parents towards something positive.
UNINTERRUPTED OPERATION OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS 18.6
Resolution, 1986
Revised, 2006
Whereas, The Washington State PTA has a purpose “To develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, spiritual education”; and,
Whereas, Quality Education is a high priority issue for the Washington State PTA; and, Whereas, Washington State citizens have historically valued the reliable delivery of vital services and the orderly management of public institutions including fire and police services and public schools, and,
Whereas, The Washington State PTA also holds that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and strikes is detrimental to the best interests of the children and
families affected by those actions, and, Whereas, The Washington State PTA believes that a disruption to the educational system in the form of work stoppages and/or strikes is often detrimental to the best interest of the children and families affected by those actions. While acknowledging that more state resources must be committed to the educational process in the State of Washington, including higher salaries for educational employees: therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA shall work to produce conditions with regard to the collective bargaining process which will consistently produce, in a timely manner, labor agreements negotiated and fully embraced by the direct parties thereto and which will not cause disruption to the school calendar; and be it further
Resolved, That the Washington State PTA will not support work stoppages and/or strikes which interrupt or disrupt the educational day.
Begin forwarded message:
From: "Oxrieder, Ann (C Ann)" <OxriederA@bsd405.org>
Date: September 1, 2008 6:09:20 PM PDT
To: "Janet Suppes" <janetpta@gmail.com>
Subject: strike update -- please share
Bellevue Schools are closed until further notice.
The Bellevue teachers’ union has announced a strike against the Bellevue School District starting Tuesday, September 2. Because of the strike, all District schools are closed until further notice.
. . Negotiations continue with the assistance of a mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission. . . .
The strike and its impact will be an agenda item at the School Board’s regular meeting, Tuesday, September 2, at 4:30 PM.
This information will be updated regularly.
Will there be childcare?
Children already enrolled in the District’s childcare program may sign up for fee-supported services at their regular sites. Full-day Head Start will also be on its regular schedule. Half-day pre-school and half-day Head Start will be cancelled. Additional childcare options are available. Access News Release >
Will there be school sports?
School sports and related practices will continue on their regular schedules. Practices will occur at the same times they would occur if schools were in session. No special practices schedules will be permitted.
Will community groups be able to use District facilities and fields?Community use of District facilities and athletic fields will continue for the time being.
Ann Oxrieder
Assistant to the Superintendent
Bellevue School District
425 456-4127
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