Jim ScottMay 6 at 10:51am

TEACHER STRIKE / LEGISLATUREIn the time it takes to follow the various threads regarding a possible teachers strike, you can actually contact your legislators at the following link:http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/default.aspxYou have to do the House and Senate separately. Go to the link for "By District (Monroe is the 39th, Maltby is the 1st) then just click on your Senator or Representative and you will be provided a direct email link. Let them know it is time to stop the politics and fully fund education as the McCleary decision demands.We are regularly told the legislature never hears from constituents regarding K-12 education. It is time to change that. This is especially important after seeing one of the leading R's response to the teachers strikes. He somehow got to the top of his party's leadership without ever understanding that teachers only get paid for the days they work and if they go on strike they won't be paid for the day they weren't in school. You'd think someone in a position to control education funding would at least know that. I'm sure there are many D's just as much in the dark on how things actually work so please don't accuse me of being political. I just happened to see his proposed bill to dock the teachers pay.

Like Comment Share 12 people like this. RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Scott- Would be very interested in reading that proposed bill to dock teachers pay, since teachers strikes are illegal it seems crazy to write a bill for an illegal activity. Please consider sharing the link where you read that information. Also will you share if the Monroe School Board is supporting this strike or taken action against a teacher strike such as Sedro Woolley School board -"The Skagit-Valley Herald reports that the Sedro-Woolley School Board passed a resolution Monday saying strikes of any length by any employees are illegal and do irreparable harm to students." http://www.seattletimes.com/.../sedro-woolley-school.../Sedro-Woolley School Board deems teacher's strike 'illegal'The Sedro-Woolley School Board has declared a...SEATTLETIMES.COMMay 6 at 11:14am Like 1 Remove Preview RemoveJim Scott I believe I read about his comments in the Herald over the weekend. Once again we are in agreement. It is absolutely crazy that a legislative leader would think a bill would be necessary when if he had the knowledge necessary to do his job to any degree of quality he would have already known the teachers wouldn't be paid for any days they are on strike. The sad part is that few in Olympia understand school funding to any greater degree than does the man from Ritzville. There have been no discussion at the board level regarding a potential local strike. The special meeting held Monday did not allow for any such discussion as it was not on the published agenda and neither was any general comment opportunity.May 6 at 2:42pm Like 3 RemoveJim Scott As far as whether or not there should be a discussion on the matter, in my personal opinion, since the courts have long refused to impose sanctions when teachers strike, any such discussion for or against would be wasted effort. Our teachers will make their decission and the district will respond as required by the laws that are enforced.May 6 at 3:56pm Like 2 RemoveDebra Kolrud The problem has not been the courts refusing to to impose sanctions, but the problem has been with local school boards that refuse to take the required step to pursue legal action. Example; the longest strike in Washington was Marysville, which finally ended once a group of parents took it upon themselves to purse legal action against both the district and the union, only then did the local school board pursued legal action against an illegal strike, bringing in the court system which quickly imposed a $250.00 day fine per teacher if the strike continued - and just like that the longest teacher strike ended!May 6 at 4:29pm Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Jim Scott - has the MEA shared any information with the school board or the Superintendent of their intentions to strike or do a walk out even for one day?May 6 at 4:32pm Like RemoveJim Scott A letter went to all families this Monday stating that MEA would be making a decision next Monday and if they chose to strike it would be on Friday the 15th. If that is their choice, June 16th will be the new last day of school.May 6 at 4:35pm Like 1 RemoveDebra Kolrud Question Director Jim Scott - you said there has been no discussion at the board level regarding a potential local strike, so how can you state the school calendar would change from the last day of school on June 15th to June 16th? Extending the school calendar to accommodate this strike requires school board approval!May 6 at 4:47pm Like RemoveJim Scott I reported what parents were told so they would be able to make appropriate plans. If the teachers choose to walk out the calendar change will have to be made official by the board once the facts are known. Whether that will happen Monday or at the following regular board meeting depends entirely on the timing of the union decission. While you may see this as a terrible overstep on the part of the administration, I see it as the most logical solution to a problem that may or may not occur.May 6 at 4:55pm Like 4 RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Scott- Even though the words " a terrible overstep" were your chosen words, and not mine, I must say I have to agree with your choice of words. You stated "There have been no discussion at the board level regarding a potential local strike school", but regardless of the lack of discussion by the school board, the administration none the less, took it upon themselves to send letters to parents/guardians that if the MEA makes such a decision the calendar would be extended. Your personal view that the administration decision is the most logical solution, has no baring as it doesn't change the fact that the administrations made a decision to extend the calendar without board discussion or approval. You may agree, but other directors may have other options they would like to propose and have the board consider. I hope you will consider respectfully reminding administration as to the proper role of the school board to ensure those elected to make the decisions are the ones actually making the decision.May 6 at 11:28pm Like RemoveJim Scott While no discussion has been held at the board level, the administration did not operate in a vacuum, but within the powers it has been delegated. Yes, formal boartd action must be taken, that doesn't mean tenative information should not be released prior to that action when it benefits the community. Making parents wait until the last week of the month for necessary information was not a viable option. The community is well aware of your views regaring the last several district administrations, and there is a reason you are no longer a director.Yesterday at 11:09am Edited Like 1 RemoveCindy Cook I support the teachers and DO NOT support any legal action against them. I appreciate them taking a stand for all of us and insisting on fully funding education! I sent my emails today. Yesterday at 9:11am Like 6 RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Jim Scott my comments have been focused towards the issue of who's in charge. This isn't about being against the administrations as you may be trying to imply, it's about the fact that if the teachers do vote to go on strike, it's the role of the school board to makes the decision what will happen next, as there are many options available to the board besides accommodating a calendar change, options that the school board should discuss if it happens. However, now that the administration sent out a letter without seeking board input, stating it would be resolved with calendar change, the administration is guaranteed the board will follow suit and approve their recommendation.12 hrs Like RemoveJim Scott right3 hrs Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Jim Scott, consider reviewing Sedro Woolley school board resolution, which states the one day strike is illegal and the union should immediately cancel the strike, and yet over here in Monroe our school board has yet to discuss this issue, yet the Administration made the decision to send out a letter citing the calendar change plan! I know, crazy me to think the school board should have a say in this! http://www.goskagit.com/.../pdf_a2c51180-ed64-11e4-abfc...S-W School Board resolutionSkagit County's Home PageGOSKAGIT.COM2 hrs Like Remove Preview RemoveJim Scott What is it you are really asking for here? A condemnation of the teachers? A rebuke of the Superintendent? A lecture on what the school board should be doing? Legal action against the teachers? Or is this just another attempt to drag the district through the mud over what at this point is a purely hypothetical situation. I'm getting confused as you seem to be using a shot gun rather than a rifle in your variing comments. I've already indicated I disagree with your position on all of the above questions and I believe the rest of the board does too. What more do you want?2 hrs Like RemoveCindy Cook I don't think Monroe should do things just because another district did, I want them to think independently and do what they think is right. The board hires an administration for a reason, if they had the time to micromanage every little notification we should just have no administration and have the board make every decision. Personally, I thank the people at the district office for giving us the heads up so we could all make a Plan B.2 hrs Like RemoveJim Scott The original point of this thread was to get people to contact their Legislators to help move the Olympia discussion forward on education funding. Let's get back to that.1 hr Edited Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Sorry Director Jim Scott that you are not understanding my concern, I've repeated express my concern that it is the role of the school board to make these decision not the Administration. While it's not a surprise you personal disagree that the Administration overstep, the fact is you can not say the rest of the board agrees with you on this matter because you stated above "There have been no discussion at the board level regarding a potential local strike." Again, you stated there has been no board discussion, so there is no board position correct, so how can you say the rest of the board supports this plan? The administration sent out a letter outlining a plan to address if this strike happens, they did this without providing an opportunity for our school board to discuss the option they have available if the union elects to go on strike. The administration has indeed overstep it's authority sending out a letter outlining a plan, as such a plan requires board discussion and board action. Be it a resolution such as Sedro Woolley school board resolution or a resolution providing full support and changing the school calendar, but regardless the school board was left out of the discussion, and as a member of the board you need to hold them accountable to ensure this doesn't happen again!1 hr Like RemoveJim Scott I do understand your concerns just as I have understood your concerns for the last decade or longer. I just don't find any validity in your constant rampage against anything to do with the board or any of the administrations you have long been raillying against. You are again making a mountain out of a mole hill on what is a purely hypothetical situation. ENOUGH - LET'S MOVE ON.1 hr Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Exactly Cindy Cook, Monroe School board should think independently yet our school board was left out of the discussion completely. The changing of the school calendar is not micro managing, the law requires the school board to approve the school calendar, so if the calendar is going to be changed to address this strike that is the role of the school board not the administration.1 hr Like RemoveJim Scott What part of hypothetical don't you understand Debra?1 hr Edited Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Scott you state the administration sent out a letter outlining how the district plan if this strike ("hypothetical situtation") occurs by making a calendar adjustment? This decision or plan to this "hypothetical situation" was made and not by the School Board, the Administration sent out this letter before the school board has had the opportunity to consider all options. But you are right this was one of the many issue we often disagreed on, and clearly as an member of the school board you will not be addressing the overstepping. Should not matter if you agree or disagree with the Administration decision, what matters is that you Director Jim Scott our elected representative along with the other four school board members were not including in the decision and that is wrong on so many levels.1 hr Like RemoveJim Scott The letter was to cover what then and now is a hypothetical situation that parents would have to make plans for should it ever come to pass. Passing judgement on the district as you have so thouroughly done for something that has not and may not ever occur is a futile exercise in my opinion. As I have said previously, just because the board has not had a discusion on the issue does not mean the Superintendent did not consult with individual directors prior to sending the letter as he is allowed to do under the authority delegated to him under board policy and under the law. He did so knowing full well the board would have to take specific action if the hypothetical situation actually came to pass. Your repeated representation of the facts as you understand them is in error as are the many assumptions you are making regarding your misrepresentation of the facts. Enough - Let's Move On !!! - We call this the elmo card. We use it in board meetings when conversations become circular as this one surely has. Have a great week end.1 hr Like RemoveDebra Kolrud Director Scott, if you are wishing to make claims of stating errors, that would be on you, not myself, as I asked you if the board has had a discussion on the matter and you state they had not, however now you're claiming the Superintendent consulted with individual directors prior to sending out this letter, and if that happened that would be even a graver concern. Such individual discussion with Directors is called a serial board meeting, and as you know from first hand experience serial meetings are a violation of the Open public meeting act. These discussions are required to be conducted in an open public meeting.2 mins Like