Kent parents, teachers gather for Q&A session
By BRIAN BECKLEY
Kent Reporter General assignment reporter
August 26, 2009 · Updated 4:44 PM
More than 80 parents and teachers showed up Tuesday evening for a question-and-answer session regarding a possible Kent teacher strike.
Led by Cara Haney, a Kent Education Association member and teacher at Panther Lake Elementary School, attendees - who seemed to be split nearly 50-50 between parents and teachers - were shown a short slide show of teacher concerns followed by questions.
The slide show focused on the union's main concerns of "time, workload and compensation," highlighting Kent's relatively high class size caps and pay for teachers that ranks among the lowest in the region. Haney also highlighted the union's desire for fewer district-directed meetings and more teacher-directed meetings including collaboration, in-depth planning and professional development.
"Your students are going to do better in the classroom," Haney said.
At one point she singled out one of the many youngsters who were in attendance with their parents.
"This is who we are fighting for," she said. "I want to be able to plan a lesson that fits him. This is what we are fighting for."
The issue of compensation is one of the top three concerns KEA has spotlighted - and a healthy portion Tuesday's meeting centered on pay, including increased pay for teachers, especially beginning teachers, where's Kent's salary ranks last among local districts at $37,883 for teachers with a bachelor's degree and no experience.
"We want to get those new teachers here in Kent," Haney said.
Contact Kent Reporter General assignment reporter Brian Beckley at bbeckley@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5054.Comment on this story.
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