Seattle teachers union wants board to delay Goodloe-Johnson's contract

At a union meeting Monday, Seattle teachers recommended that the Seattle School Board not extend Superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson's contract until she shows significant improvement in how she works with parents, teachers and other members of the community.

All the educators at the meeting supported the motion, with six abstentions, said Olga Addae, the union's president. There were about 100 people total in attendance, all elected representatives from Seattle schools or other employee groups.

The representatives also want Goodloe-Johnson to foster a positive view of district educators, and to move the district forward in a positive and equitable way, Addae said.

"Our representatives felt the School Board can wait until improvement is made before guaranteeing her another year on the job," she said.

Last week, the Seattle School Board gave Goodloe-Johnson a largely favorable review, rating her as "meets expectations" in 15 of 17 areas. The two areas where the board said she needed to improve are her skills in working with the community and math achievement.

The board's executive committee is recommending that Goodloe-Johnson's contract, which now ends in June 2012, be extended to June 2013. The board plans to vote on that July 7.

At the teachers-union meeting, the representatives also considered holding a no-confidence vote on the superintendent but decided to wait until the fall. Addae said they wanted to see how contract negotiations with the district go this summer and to give all Seattle teachers and other educators a chance to participate in such a vote.

Teachers at about 10 schools have now taken no-confidence votes of their own.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com