Ferndale Teachers Vote To Strike

Ferndale teachers have voted to strike, delaying Wednesday's scheduled start of school in the Ferndale School District.

KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Jeff Dubois said teachers gathered beginning at 8 a.m. Ninety-two percent of the membership voted; of those who voted, 91 percent approved the strike.

Classes will not be held Wednesday, Dubois said. The teachers will begin picketed outside Ferndale schools at 7:30 a.m.

"I'm really excited that we're finally going to let the district know, and the community in general, that we want to be prepared to teach their children," said Jeremy Nolan, an elementary school teacher.

Dubois said teachers feel they're being short changed compared to other districts when it comes to lesson planning time.

Ferndale teachers said that in their current contract, they get 120 minutes per week to prepare during the school day.

"That averages to be about 24 minutes a day, and it's just not enough to prepare our students for all the things that we need to do for them," said Tracie Morris, president of the teachers' union.

The union said layoffs have increased class sizes but teachers have less time to prepare.

Dubois said a mediation session is planned for Tuesday but that any agreement Tuesday would be too late to start school as scheduled on Wednesday.

Messages left with the district had not been returned by midday.

The district has about 5,000 students at 11 schools.