Teachers in four districts take part in education funding strikes
Apr 24, 2015, 5:12 AM | Updated: 6:06 am
Teachers in Blaine, Ferndale, Bellingham, and Mount Vernon will walk out Friday to protest the Legislature's inaction on education funding. (AP)
(AP)
Teachers in Blaine, Ferndale, Bellingham, and Mount Vernon will walk out Friday to protest the Legislature’s inaction on education funding.
Teachers in Sedro-Woolley plan to strike on April 29 and the Lake Washington School District will participate May 6. Educators from Arlington, Lakewood, and Stanwood-Camano previously walked out on Wednesday.
The walkouts are part of an effort to draw attention to the lack of progress in fully funding the state’s education since the McCleary decision, which ruled that state lawmakers must fully budget for education.
It will take at least $3 billion more to get the job done.
Meanwhile, the Legislature’s 2015 regular session is coming to an end on Friday — which is two days early — but only because lawmakers are already set to return for a special session on Wednesday.
In a statement, Governor Jay Inslee said he considers the operating budget and education funding the top priority of the upcoming special session, but he is also asking lawmakers to finish work on other issues, including a transportation revenue package and a capital construction budget.
Students at schools participating in the walkouts will have to make the days up later this year.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
