Revenue from property taxes, the lottery, federal grants, municipal investments, hasn't been enough. Its kind of like alcoholism.

@2: Ha! I could easily see former PI cartoonist Horsey depict the state education system as a drunkard desperately looking for drops in those empty fifths.

Everett School district walks out on Friday. (They will also make up the day later, so no precious child will miss a single day of instruction. They are also supported by the school district.)

Interesting drunkard analogy raindrop, considering that many teachers haven't had a drink for 6 years.

I do enjoy the irony of Baumgartner and his cronies (Grand Old Party of Assholes) wanting legislation to punish teachers for walking out (hence "not working") when the sole reason they are walking out ("not working") is because the legislature is not working to fund education like they are supposed to be doing. And legislators are still getting paid - more than a lot of teachers. Even more if you include their healthy $120 per diem.

I wish that more of you media types would examine the "levy swap" idea that Mark Mullet (D) is floating. Because it's so easy to pass levies NOW when the voters know the funds will be spent locally... I'm sure people would be even more excited to vote for a levy that will be confiscated in part and sent off to other districts that are populated by people too cheap to vote for levies and support their own schools.

This is the perfect justification for rectifying (and raising) property taxes in Seattle.

Education has always been funded with local property taxes, and Seattle which demands both high quality, and fair pay, must pony up out of their own pockets.

Raising property taxes in Seattle on homeowners who have been grandfathered under an unconstitutional statute limiting tax rises to 1% per year in aggregate has let revenue slide to unacceptable levels.

Raise high the property tax ceilings, politicians!

I PERSONALY wrote to Governor Spellman before there was a WA state lottery, told him to. Make one and use the profits for schools not the general fund. You the teachers pull this , w/o any ones. Knowledge, screw the kids by a make up day. I would wish and fully support all students if they had a SURPRIZE walkout on the teachers. For a week, a protest, a sit in, demand better teachers with better attitudes and qualifications. Too many teachers. Are tied up with figuring how to have an affair and literally screw their students. These individuals should be. Barred from ever teaching again. In the U.S. I would love to go into the teachers lounge and see just how luxurious they have it. Do you have a coffee pot for the students use at beck and call ? NOW FOR THE BIG QUESTION.......WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU REQUIRED A STUDENT TO

Make a book reporting in class in long hand, with proper spelling and grammar. BETTER STILL ...WHEN IS THE LAST TIME. YOU GAVE AN F , FAILED TO PROMOTE SOMEONE ? Or did you send "little Johnny " on up the chain or someone else to do YOUR job? You as teachers moan and complain, ever had a survey in your class. Or how about a comment sheet how to improve the school. Or have you bowed down to Muslims, to remove our flags, and instituted clothing regs that make kids look like Victorian grandma's ? Some teachers are too young to teach, THEIR clothing. At times can be debate able. Do you have a. Dress code written in layman's terms specifically what is and what is not with. Similar photos as images ?

I think there was every ancillary occupation there imaginable….except I saw no Resource Officers. Would not mind if they were all laid off. They really frighten too many chlldren of color. The Consent Decree obligations need to be fully met and the communities feeling safe from the pipeline and brutality before they should be in the schools.

@9,10
Dude

Good for the teachers. It's a shame they have to fight the state to provide a better future for our children

@9, 10: If you wrote to the governor, I do hope he takes your style of writing as an assessment of the level of education and intelligence of your side of the issue in aggregate.

Can someone please show year-over-year budgets that have actually decreased? Thanks in advance!