The Kent School Board’s vote on a possible lawsuit to force an end to the teachers’ strike ends in a 2-2 tie, which means no action on a lawsuit for now. It’s also not clear if they’ll try to break that tie when the new, 5th board member joins them.
Meanwhile, the latest offer from Kent Schools includes a 6.3% raise the first year, which includes 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment paid for by the state. The second two years are the COLA raises the next two years. You can read more details of the latest offer here.
Kent Education Association vice-president, Layla Jones, says it includes nothing about the mental health and other student support services they want, and she says it would take away certain protections, including the labor grievance process and time allowed to do union work.
Kent Schools will only point to updates on its website for new information, but a possible lawsuit to get teachers back to work is on the board’s agenda.
Jones would only say even with a judge’s order, union membership will decide whether to end the walkout.
