Locke to Marysville: Start school Monday

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke yesterday called on the Marysville School Board and striking teachers to reopen classrooms by Monday, even if they don't have a contract agreement.

"It's absolutely imperative that we get the kids in Marysville back to school," Locke said, shortly after meeting with teachers from the district. "This strike has gone on far too long. Neither side has shown a sense of urgency. This is absolutely unacceptable."

As the strike enters its 39th day — the longest in state history — district officials said they'd be willing to open schools Monday. But if they do, union leaders of the 690-member Marysville Education Association (MEA) said it's unlikely teachers would show up.

"The Marysville teachers will return to school when we have a fair contract, and the fact remains the responsibility for resolving the strike rests firmly with the Marysville School Board," said MEA President Elaine Hanson. "The Marysville teachers want to be back in school — that's where their hearts are. But they won't be there until they have a contract that is something we can be proud to ratify."

Locke said he has no authority to force the two sides to make a deal, or even take a cooling-off period. But the governor said he would take further action today if teachers and the School Board don't make progress in negotiations.

The MEA, seeking improved pay, benefits and working conditions, and district officials will meet this afternoon for a mediation session, the 20th time the two sides have met since contract negotiations began June 16.

Locke wouldn't go into details but said his office is talking with Superintendent of Public Instruction Terry Bergeson to see "what other services" could be provided to students, especially seniors, to make sure they're "not having their senior year of education disrupted."

"If this drags out, they could be going to school all the way up to the day before they go off to college," he said.

Locke said he can tap into an emergency fund to deal with the situation, but again would not go into detail.

Marysville district spokeswoman Judy Parker said district leaders share Locke's sentiments.

"We, of course, believe the children and teachers should be in school," she said.

It would require a lot of work, she added, such as making plans for all bus drivers and food-service workers to be in place, but it would be possible to start classes Monday.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire also weighed in, with a letter to both sides reminding them of their "paramount duty" to provide students an education. As of today, 29 school days will have to be made up to reach the state's requirement of 180 days of instruction per school year.

A parents group is seeking an injunction to end the strike. A Snohomish County Superior Court judge is scheduled to hear the case Wednesday.

It is not uncommon for teachers to return to work even though their contracts have expired. In those cases, teachers go back to work under the guidelines of their previous contract, while union and district leaders hammer out a new one. That happened in the Monroe School District this year.

Marysville parent Darci Becker said she hopes the governor's statement will help MEA and district negotiators come to a settlement today. However, she still sides with teachers.

"Those of us who support the teachers will continue to support the teachers," she said. "If my teachers are unhappy, my children are unhappy, and I can't put them in a situation where their education is compromised due to unacceptable working conditions."

Elizabeth Henry, a parent with Tired of the Strike, which is seeking the injunction, said her group is seeking the same result as the governor.

"That has been our goal since Sept. 27, when we formed," Henry said. "Our children deserve an education, and they need to be in school."

State House Republican leader Richard DeBolt, R-Chehalis, yesterday pledged "the resources of the House Republican Caucus to get the school year under way," adding that he and his wife, Amy, a substitute teacher, could fill in as teachers in Marysville.

J.J. Jensen: 425-745-7809 or jjensen@seattletimes.com. Andrew Garber: 360-943-9882 or agarber@seattletimes.com