After the governor’s orders closed public schools for nearly two years, and after watching private schools and public charter schools return to normal operations more than a year ago, many parents in Washington have had enough.

Research now shows the COVID shutdown policy of targeting traditional public schools imposed harm on students through lost learning, emotional pain and delayed social development.  The data is reported in my recent study and summarized in my recent op-ed in The Spokesman-Review.

Given what we’ve been through, it’s understandable that all parents at traditional public schools want is for their children’s education to return to normal.

So it comes as a shock to hear that Kent teacher union president Tim Martin and other local union officials decided yesterday they do not want schools to open as scheduled on Thursday, August 25th.  Instead, they say they are going on strike.

The move is about money, of course.  As families in Kent absorb the hard news, here is some factual background to help people understand what is going on.  These data points will help people know whether public school teachers are “underpaid,” as union executives claimed.

• Teachers in Kent have gotten an average pay and benefits increase of $30,000 in the last few years, a 31% raise.
• In 2015, total average teacher pay and benefits were $94,696. In 2022, average teacher pay and benefits are $124,625. Here’s the link to Personnel Summary Reports, Table 19, reported by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
• This high level of teacher pay, health care, paid vacation and other benefits is more than the average household earnings of taxpayers who fund the school budget.
• Per student spending in Kent is $19,654, more than the tuition at most private schools.
• At the same time, families are leaving the system.  Student enrollment in Kent Public Schools fell last year by 642 students.

If the union gets more money, the Kent School Board will be spending more on a public education system with fewer students.

At a time when Kent Public Schools is losing students, union officials should be thinking about attracting families back to the schools, not calling controversial strikes to give families even more reason to seek learning alternatives.

By collaborating with the community in an inclusive and tolerant way union executives can help re-open traditional public schools and get student learning back on track.  As an added benefit, sincere cooperation from the union would promote peace and help stem the flow of families leaving the system.