Screenshot from the HEA Facebook page announcing the May 21 walkout.
All schools in Highline Public Schools will be closed on Thursday, May 21 due to a teacher walkout.
The Highline Education Association (HEA) – the teachers’ union – voted by an 88% majority Tuesday night (May 12) to participate in a one-day walkout on May 21.
According to the union’s website, “teachers and support staff have gone six years without a state cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the Republican Senate budget only includes a small 3 percent COLA over two years and no increase in health care funding, which means teachers will take home less money next year as health care costs rise. Legislators are in line to get 11 percent raises. Several budget proposals would also unjustifiably restrict school districts’ flexibility to make local decisions about teacher compensation and staffing for student programs.”
The district said that it does not have enough substitute teachers to cover all classes that day, so school will be cancelled on May 21.
Highline will make up the school day on May 26, the district’s scheduled snow make-up day.
HEA wrote in communication with its members:
“The target of HEA’s May 21 Day of Action Walkout is the WA State Legislature, not the Highline School District.”