Thousands of teachers to stage one-day strike to send message to lawmakers

ARLINGTON -- Parents in three local school districts are bracing for teacher walkouts on Wednesday.

When Shraymico Gilchrist heard about her daughter's teachers walking out of classes, “I thought they were joking I called the school.”

But it’s no joke.





The Lakewood School District is canceling school on Wednesday because of the  teacher walkout and some parents are still scrambling to find last-minute child care.

“Where I live, they are trying to buddy up to see who can watch whose kids; some parents go in early and some work late,” Gilchrist said.

“We recognize that there will be an impact to the community tomorrow. That's unfortunate but our hope is that by impacting the community for a day we will bring about years of positive change,” teacher Larry Delaney said.

Delaney is a math teacher but lately he's been studying politics in Olympia.

“It's the paramount duty of the Legislature to fully fund education and they are failing,” Delaney said.

State lawmakers are proposing a billion dollars to satisfy a state Supreme Court order to increase funding for public schools.

But teachers say that's not enough to create programs to help struggling kids and lower class sizes.

“With large sizes it's ultimately the kids who suffer and it's important to note we will be standing up waving signs for the kids,” Delaney said.

Stanwood Camano has also canceled classes on Wednesday because of a walkout there.

Teachers at Arlington are joining in, but Wednesday was originally an early dismissal day so classes will not be affected. Parents say despite the inconvenience, they support the teachers.

“They are educating our future; I think education should come first,” said one parent.

“If they have to walk out to get their point across, walk out,” Gilchrist said.

Teachers from all school districts will meet for a rally and march at 1:30 p.m. in Arlington on Wednesday. About 800 teachers are expected to attend.

On Friday, teachers in Bellingham, Ferndale, Mount Vernon and Blaine will walk out of classes.

On Wednesday, April 29, teachers at Sedro-Woolley will walk out.

In all about 2,600 teachers are expected to participate through the week.