A majority of teacher unions on the North Olympic Peninsula are deciding whether to participate in a Jan. 14 statewide teacher walkout.
Some have already agreed to travel to Olympia to demonstrate for more school funding from the state Legislature.
The rally, entitled the Day of Action, is designed to pressure state lawmakers into increasing teachers’ salaries and other funds for public education.
In most districts on the Peninsula, the walkout day would be made up later in the school year so students wouldn’t be shortchanged in their education days, union representatives and district officials said.
More than 20,000 teachers across the state have voted to support the walkout, according to representatives of the Washington Education Association.
The walkout plan involves simultaneous demonstrations in Spokane, the Tri-Cities and Olympia at about noon Jan. 14.
After the protests public meetings around Washington with educators and community groups to increase awareness of education funding issues are planned.
Port Angeles Education Association President Barry Burnett said his union — the Peninsula’s largest — plans to vote today.
He discussed the pending vote with the School Board during a Monday night meeting, asking board members to support the teachers’ decisions.
The Port Angeles union represents 280 teachers.
(Chief Jefferson County Correspondent Stuart Elliott contributed to this report.)
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