Two weeks ago the Tacoma teachers union reached a tentative agreement with the school district, ending a one-week strike that centered around teacher pay.
A question on many minds during the strike was answered this week when the district published an update to this year’s school calendar. The district is shortening winter and spring breaks to make up four days of instruction.
The district’s Christmas Break was originally scheduled Dec. 24-Jan. 4, but has since been shorted to Dec. 24-Jan. 2. Spring Break was also shortened from April 1-5 to April 3-5.
During the strike, the district said it would weigh several options to make up missed days. Saturday school was a possibility.
District spokesperson Dan Voelpel confirmed the four days removed from holidays break were in response to days missed during the strike.
"The state gives all school districts a fixed date window in the spring to administer all the state-mandated testing," Voelpel told KING 5. "We wanted to maximize the number of instructional days that teachers had with students before we have to administer those tests. In addition, our graduation ceremonies occur before the end of school, and high school seniors have met requirements for advanced placement and international bachelorette testing prior to graduation. Third, this ensures seniors have met the legal date requirement who would not have met the state graduation requirements prior to June 10 if we tacked on extra days onto the end of the school year."
What are your thoughts on Tacoma Public Schools’ plan for making up the missed strike days?
Teachers and parents shared their frustrations on social media after hearing of the changes to the school year calendar.
Many expressed their outcry about taking holiday time away from families.
Carissa Erin posted on Facebook, “I already have vacation planned over winter break. I paid for the trip in June!”
Amber Noelle Burg echoed Erin’s words, “This is disastrous for those of us who are divorced with parenting plans the govern the school holidays.”
Tacoma teachers approved a new contract that included a 14 percent pay increase for professional technical employees, a 14.4 percent increase for certified staff including teachers, and a 19 percent pay increase for office professionals.
