Bellevue School Board won't seek injunction against striking teachers

The Bellevue School Board decided Wednesday night not to seek an injunction against its striking teachers, but to return to the bargaining table and press for a settlement to the 8-day-old strike.

"We are not prepared to seek an injunction. We think there is work that can be done," said Board President Peter Bentley. "We want to be able to come together as a community when this is all over."

Bellevue Education Association President Michele Miller praised the decision.

"Tomorrow we're going back to the bargaining table. This lets us continue to bargain."

Bellevue's 1,200 teachers went on strike Sept. 2 over pay, health-care benefits and use of the district's common curriculum. Though teachers strikes are illegal in Washington state, it is up to local school boards to enforce the law.

Earlier Wednesday evening, more than 800 people packed the theater at Sammamish High School and flowed into the adjacent cafeteria to express to the board their views about the strike, a possible injunction and the issues that have divided teachers and the district.

Speakers urged the School Board to settle the strike.

"Work on solutions, not hardfisted legal action," said Bonnie Nash, a district parent.

Another parent urged the union to work with the district to resolve the issues.

"Get back to the bargaining table and make this thing happen," said Bill Koefoed, another parent.

The district handed out red and green cards to members of the crowd so that they could express their views on the opinions voiced by the dozens of speakers. When asked if they supported an injunction against the teachers, a majority in the theater held up red cards, indicating they opposed an injunction.

Board member Judy Bushnell surveyed the audience. "That's a lot of red cards," she said.

And while the crowd expressed opinions mostly with the colored cards, a loud cheer went up when a parent called for daily negotiations until the dispute is resolved.

Many parents spoke against the standardized curriculum, characterizing it as a "straitjacket" that undermines teachers' professional judgment and limits their ability to help individual students.

"The curriculum is a great framework, but even the best teams call audibles," said parent Eric Dawes.

Another cheer went up when teacher Amber Graeber said teachers share the district's goals of providing an equal education to all students and holding teachers accountable.

"We want equity. We want accountability. We don't want our hands tied," she said.

Lynn Thompson: 206-464-8305 or lthompson@seattletimes.com