Maligning Seattle schools superintendent doesn't change budget reality

Seattle school district officials followed Washington state law by notifying teachers of a proposed one-day reduction in the length of next year's contract. But they are rightfully apologizing for the timing.

The move occurred because the state Legislature eliminated one of two Learning Improvement Days and removed the accompanying $1 million in funding in the recently approved state budget.

Seattle, already facing a $34 million budget gap, cannot make up the cut. Moreover, state collective-bargaining laws require teachers be notified of any contractual changes by May 15.

The letter from Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson states the district cannot renew the 182-day contract, but can offer a 181-day contract. Information on how to appeal the proposal is included.

Response by the teachers union, the Seattle Education Association, has been unhelpful and destructive. Union leaders are being purposely obtuse about the letter's intent, even threatening legal action.

This strategy of killing the message by maligning the messenger shouldn't work. This issue is less about the superintendent and more about tough state budget cuts.

Indeed, the letter could have been more artfully written. Stripped of its educational jargon and legalese, the district's six-paragraph notification should have been a paragraph or two. Blame district lawyers.

District leaders concede the letter's timing, during Teacher Appreciation Week, was terrible. They say letters were meant to go out this week but some were mistakenly sent last week. That's the kind of mistake public-relations nightmares are made of.

Missteps aside, the district should be notifying teachers of the reality wrought by education spending cutbacks. Statewide, 3,000 to 5,000 teachers are being notified that they will be laid off as a result of education budget cuts. District officials have said they hope to avoid laying off teachers by using cash reserves and cutting other areas, but they have not ruled out the possibility of layoffs.

The teachers union's ire is uncalled for and misdirected.