Due to the TEA announcement that their members will remain on strike Monday, all Tacoma Public Schools will be closed Monday, September 19th, due to insufficient school staffing.
Statement of Superintendent Art Jarvis on Judge Chushcoff's ruling:
While we had hoped for a different outcome, I walk away from the judge's decision with a sense of a hollow victory, because we will not be able to offer school on Monday for students. The good news is the temporary restraining order stays in place, Judge Chushcoff declared the strike illegal, and he understands harm is being done to children and their families. It's clear from his request to show cause, that he has a sincere interest in holding accountable all those who defy the court order to return to work. But the bad news is he failed to put teachers back in the classroom for children.
We asked for the assistance of the court and demonstrated harm that resulted from children not being in school. It is evident that some will choose to continue that harm until the judge applies sanctions, possibly retroactively, on Sept. 27. We believe that the court intends to enforce its ruling. The district will comply with the judge's order to identify which employees did and did not show up for school so that no one will be unjustly subject to sanctions.
Meanwhile, the collective bargaining process continues, and the district will look for a resolution there. However, without an agreement and without a judge willing to compel teachers to return to the classroom immediately, the district must explore all its options for reopening school.