The three-year contract with Tacoma teachers expires Wednesday, and Wednesday afternoon, teachers will gather at Mount Tahoma High School at 4:30 p.m. to decide whether to go on strike or head back to class and continue bargaining with the district.

The District will meet at 5 p.m.

Only a few parents showed up to ask questions of the teachers union at a public forum Tuesday night.

The teachers' budget analyst was there, telling the crowd the district puts too much in reserves each year and should spend more on teachers, now.

At issue is a proposed teacher pay cut of 1.9 percent and class size increases the district said it needs to help deal with funding cuts. Parent Michael Doss said students need to be in class.

“It’s a tough economy time, you know? So, I think this is the wrong time to go on strike and hope they don’t go on strike. I hope they listen to the parents that we need teachers on Sept. 1,” said Doss.

The District said it will contact parents to let them know what the plan is for Thursday.