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