Video: Bellevue teachers strike for fourth day

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BELLEVUE, Wash. - Bellevue teachers walked the picket lines for the fourth day Friday and the strike shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

Negotiators are now back at the bargaining table, but it's almost certain there won't be school on Monday.

Friday afternoon, teachers rallied outside the district's headquarters. The sticking issues are pay and the district's Web-based curriculum.

In the meantime, parents are frustrated.

As the only office administrator at her company, Meg Dunwiddie has a lot of things to deal with. This week she has two more issues.

Meg's two boys, Seth and Dale, should be in class. But with the strike, Meg brought them to the office since child care is expensive and both she and her husband can't take any vacation.

"I'm not getting half the work done as I need to," she said. "It seems like this is the longest four days of our lives right now."

Failed talks have delayed the beginning of school for some 16,000 students. Educators are asking for higher wages and more freedom from a mandatory curriculum. The district says it doesn't have the money.

While salaries vary depending on experience, the average Bellevue teacher earns $58,000. The district has offered a 1.5 percent raise the first year and a 1 percent raise the second. It's important to note, this is on top of the state's cost of living adjustment which in 2009 will be 5.1 percent.

Teachers like Rob Duerr say the cost of living in Bellevue is higher than other districts.

"I can't afford to be taking steps backwards," he said.

"I feel sorry for the younger teachers who drive through Bellevue and can't even buy a house in the area," said teacher Steve Mackie.

"We believe the teachers' demands for compensation would have a huge financial setback on the district," said Ann Oxrieder, Bellevue School District spokesperson. "It would be financially disastrous for us to do that. As important, it would hurt the academic program."

Bellevue teachers want better benefits, and also accuse the district of trying to micro-manage their classrooms, with mandated Web-based curriculum that they claim doesn't take into account individual needs.

"We're required to use the same lesson for all students," said teacher Bryona Golding. "In taking away our autonomy, taking away our ability to get to know our students and then meet their needs the district is making it impossible for us to be good teachers."

But the district says teachers are required to implement the approved curriculum.

As a state mediator headed into another round of negotiations between the school district and the teachers' union, there was still a big gap over compensation.

"It's a great place to work, a tough place to try to live and raise a family. We just want to keep pace," said teacher Dusty Steere.

"We don't have the money. It takes a huge amount of money to give them the raise they are asking for, huge," said Oxrieder.

The strikes leaves parents like Meg Dunwiddie worrying about balancing their jobs and childcare.

"Both my husband and I work," said Dunwiddie. "A lot of the moms are thinking about cooping and taking turns watching a bunch of kids, possibly asking my parents for help."

"Yeah, my wife works. I work. We're pretty much in peril I guess," said parent Eddie Rayden.

Emergency school closure information is posted on the District's Web site and will be on the "snow information" line at 425-456-4111.

Child care resources for parents

The Bellevue Boys and Girls Club has set up a strike camp that will handle about 100 children. The Bellevue YMCA and Jubilee Reach Center are also offering child care.

Parents can register and get more information on day camps below:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue; 209 100th AVE NE, Bellevue; 425-454-6162; http://bellevuebgclubs.countmein.com/

Bellevue Family YMCA; 14230 Bel-Red Rd; Bellevue; 425-746-9900; http://www.seattleymca.org

Jubilee Reach Center; 14200 SE 13th Pl.; 425-746-0506; http://www.jublieereach.org

Childcare Resources-East King County; 16315 NE 87th Street; Building B, Redmond, WA 98052; Referral Line (425) 865-9350; Provider Line (425) 865-9033; http://www.childcare.org/

The City of Bellevue is supporting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue's expanded childcare day camp at South Bellevue Community Center, 14509 SE Newport Way. For registration information, call 425-452-4240. The city is also prepared to open day camps for children at two other community centers on Thursday, Sept. 4, if the strike continues. Registration will be required and information will be available on the City of Bellevue Web site, or by phone at 452-452-6885.

KING 5's Bernard Choi, Tricia Manning-Smith and Jane McCarthy contributed to this report.