NEW — 1:30 p.m. May 26, 2015
Renton School District teachers will join colleagues across the state in protesting lawmakers’ failure to fully fund public education, but they’ll do it outside of regular school hours.
The district announced today that teachers voted to hold an after-school one-day walkout May 28.
“Teachers in the Renton School District are dedicated to the success of every student. They display that dedication every day in every classroom, and they did so again when union leaders from every school voted to hold one-day walkouts at a time that doesn’t affect classroom learning,” the district said in a statement.
Teachers and supporters will gather at the intersection of Rainier Avenue and Airport Way and the intersection of Rainier Avenue and Grady Way to wave signs at about 3 p.m. Thursday.
A Community Rally will take place immediately after the sign-waving events at 5:15 p.m. at the Renton Piazza, 233 Burnett Ave. in downtown Renton. Parents, students and all in the community are welcome to join.
Dozens of teachers unions in school districts across the state have voted to take a “one-day strike” to protest state lawmakers’ stances on several key education issues. State lawmakers are still in session deciding on budget issues including how to fully fund basic education.
Some of the walkouts already took place; many of the one-day strikes, including nearby Issaquah’s, were conducted during regularly scheduled school days.
In each walkout, teachers made it clear that the action is not directed toward the school district, but toward the state Legislature.
“Many REA members wanted to walk out, just like their colleagues in districts across the state, but it was decided by Renton teachers that we would be courageous in a different way,” said Renton Education Association President Cami Kiel in a statement.
The other school district that serves Newcastle held a one-day walkout May 19. Issaquah School District students did not have school that day as teachers waved signs in cities across the district and joined a larger rally in Seattle.