Legislature isn’t complying

I would like to share with the Spokane community my perspective on the teacher walkout on Wednesday.

I began teaching with Spokane Public Schools in 1995 and have taught American history to eighth-graders for most of that time. Over many years, I have seen incremental reductions to my pay.

I used to be paid for three days of work before the first day of school; now I am paid for two. I used to be paid for a learning improvement day in February; now I am not. I also have to spend hundreds of dollars in tuition every five years to keep my continuing teaching certificate valid. No financial assistance is provided, nor will I earn more pay for completing more credits. Moreover, I am at the top of the pay scale (Master of Arts with 90 credits and 16 years of service) but with little or no possibility for increased pay other than the cost of living allowance (COLA).

The bottom line: The Legislature refuses to comply not only with the Washington state Supreme Court ruling concerning school funding but also with voter-approved teacher COLAs.

Christian Perreiah

Spokane