7-Week Teachers Strike Means School Year Likely to Run Through Mid-July, Include 2 Saturdays

TBO ^ | 11/7/03 | AP

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

MARYSVILLE, Wash. (AP) - The students in Marysville got an extra seven weeks of summer while their teachers walked the picket lines in the state's longest school strike. Now, it looks like they'll be paying for it with their vacations through mid-July. The state requires schools to be in session for at least 180 days.

With seven weeks lost to the strike, the Marysville schools administration and teachers on Thursday proposed a new class schedule that would extend the school year to July 16, add classes on two Saturdays and cut back the winter holiday and spring break vacations.

The plan still must be approved by the School Board and the 650-member Marysville Education Association, which have meetings scheduled later this month.

"It's a long time, but we are going to have to go," said Marysville-Pilchuck High School senior Dustin Dekle. "Some people will just be mad. July is a long time."

Administrators are hoping for a mild winter, since snow or other problems could add to the number of makeup days. "We're keeping our fingers crossed," district spokeswoman Judy Parker said.

The 11,180-student district started classes Oct. 22 after teachers complied with a back-to-work order issued by a judge. Teachers are working under the terms of their old contract, and talks are continuing.

[ladylib]

This school district lost 360 students because of this prolonged strike, many of whom the district can't trace. The district lost $4 million in aid.

Hope the teachers and the school board are proud of themselves.

[Teacher317]

GET

GOVERNMENT

OUT

OF

EDUCATION

[Sgt_Schultze]

It was something that just had to be done. It was for the children, dontcha know.

[ladylib]

I like this idea:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3767-2003Nov5.html

These homeschooling parents hired their own tutors to teach their children a couple of days a week.

[theirjustdue]

This school district lost 360 students because of this prolonged strike,

I'm very happy to say that two of these are my 5 and 8-year old grandson's.

My daughter and son-in-law made the decision (although tight for them financially) to put them both in a private school that, BTW, is academically a full year ahead of Marysville's schools.

Interestingly, Marysville teachers were already the highest paid teachers in the state, but student standardized test scores remained at or near the states lowest.

[ladylib]

I also read that the loss of those students could put 20 teachers and 6 other workers out of jobs eventually, but not this year.

For what the dispicable school board and teachers union did, I hope those kids never go back. Those kids were pawns and their and their parents' lives were turned upside down I'm sure.