School starts in Seattle, but maybe not for long

Seattle teachers are back in their classrooms on Thursday, but it might only be a temporary start to the school year.

A tentative deal was reached between Seattle’s school district and teachers’ union, suspending a five-day strike. In short, the deal provides teachers a 9.5 percent raise over three years, among other financial benefits.

Related: Seattle families breathe sigh of relief as teachers return

But the deal is only tentative. Teachers still have to vote &#8212 on Sunday afternoon at Benaroya Hall &#8212 to approve the package, and some are saying that might not be so easy. Should the teachers’ union shoot down the deal, the strike could continue, according to KING 5.

“There’s a lot of concern that the wages were not high enough,” teacher Judy Deignan told KING 5, noting that suspending the strike this week only passed with narrow teacher approval. “I think it’s going to be a close vote, possibly.”

Other teachers told KING 5 that the deal doesn’t make the five days of striking worthwhile.

It’s a similar sentiment teachers told KIRO Radio’s Josh Kerns Tuesday. Teachers weren’t “thrilled” with the proposed contract, Kerns reported. He spoke with a number of people who were “very unhappy” and were already considering voting against the deal.

The 9.5 percent raise, along with a 4.8 percent state cost of living adjustment over two years, is lower from the original 18 that teachers went on strike for.

Even if teachers agree to the deal on Sunday, there is still the matter of students making up the six days of school they already missed. Six days will be rescheduled, which could mean a longer school year, or shorter mid-year breaks. Graduation dates for seniors could also be changed.

Matt Johnson, a parent of a Seattle kindergarten student, said he is uneasy about school starting before the full union membership votes on the contract. What would that mean for families if the contract is voted down?

“What if things don’t pan out?” he said.