Strike looms as Snoqualmie teachers meet

SNOQUALMIE PASS -- Snoqualmie educators will meet today to determine their next step after months of negotiating with the district on a new contract, putting the start of the school year in jeopardy.

Hundreds of teachers could vote to strike just hours before the beginning of the school year which is scheduled for Wednesday morning.

Leaders say the union voted the latest contract proposal down overwhelmingly. Educators are asking for smaller classroom sizes at the elementary school level and better pay across the board.

Today’s meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie. School is supposed to start Wednesday morning. Negotiations don’t resume until Wednesday afternoon.

Union leaders say they are doing this for the kids. Tony Manjarrez said, “All we’re trying to do is keep educators in the classroom and provide a high quality of education. If we have smaller class sizes that benefits everybody.”