Last week Drew Mikkelsen, KING 5 TV News reporter posted this tweet:

The idea of providing federal COVID funding only to schools that are planning to reopen to in-person instruction is not new.

Last month Republicans, led by Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn ) proposed a COVID relief package  including this idea. Then on February 1^st  Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-Gig Harbor) proposed an amendment to HB 1368 to adopt this idea. Although the amendment was defeated, it garnered bipartisan support. All the Republicans were joined by three Democrats in supporting the idea.

Then on February 16^th, Rep. Stokesbary introduced the House Republican budget proposal, describing how his proposal would help open the schools, and improve equity:

“For all the talk the Governor had about equity in his budget, this budget addresses the single biggest lack of equity that’s facing our state today, and that is the continued, anti-scientific shutdown of our public school system. The science and data has been clear for months that it is safe to reopen schools. They have the resources to do so. And this budget provides them the incentive to finally reopen.

“The opportunity and achievement gap was already far too big, and this body has been working hard to close it. But by continuing to let schools shut down we are widening that gap. We are watching in real time as a generation of students gets sentenced to cognitive and emotional delays, and that is flat out wrong. We as adults and policymakers in the room, we should be demanding much better for our kids. This is the equity issue of our generation, and this budget takes a giant step forward towards solving that.” At Time Stamp 18:15.

Rep. Stokesbary’s overall state budget proposal would also provide a $300 payment to each low-income student to cover costs associated with school closures, and provide equal funding to public charter schools, non-unionized schools which serve mostly low-income, minority students.

The WEA union, however, wants public schools to stay closed. On Friday last week Paul Delaney, the WEA union president told Dave Ross at KIRO radio:

Ross:

“….So your suggestion is that it be a matter of choice (to go back to school), both on the part of the students and the teachers?

Delaney: “Yes…”

Ross:   “…It seems kind of squishy. Parents are really hot to go back to school, and if turns out that many teachers are not willing to go back, that is going to cause some real tensions in the school districts.”

Delaney:

“Without a doubt. There is increasing political pressure, but we are not going to get back to ‘normal’ any time soon.”

Ross:   

“On the wider issue, the fact that kids have lost close up to a year of schooling. Are your members prepared to make that up, or is that to be written off?

Delaney:

“…I am confident our students will be fine….”

In other words, the union is not returning to school.

Meanwhile, private schools and most public charter schools have been safely providing in-person instruction to their students for months.

It is obvious the greatest obstacle to better public education is the state teachers union.

The union ignores the science and data showing that it is safe to reopen schools. Union intransigence widens the opportunity and achievement gap that puts low-income, minority children behind in their academic learning.

The union blocks access to more public charter schools. The union blocked HB 1215, to give parents $7,000 so they can enroll their children in private schools where the teachers are willing to show up for work. The union blocked SB 5200, to give $15,000 scholarships to special needs children, and children in foster care.

The union blocks direct education aid to families, even during a pandemic.   

The union blocks parents from participating in bargaining talks with districts about reopening schools.

The crisis of COVID school closures is making the harmful influence of the union on the education of children plain for all to see.