“Clark County school districts are in the red” (April 7, The Columbian) misses the critical element: union bargaining and basic math caused this problem. The state allocated $69,129 per teacher for most area schools, but union bullying and school board complicity resulted in average salaries higher than the law and resources allowed.
To keep this from happening, the state put two sideboards on bargaining, which were trampled by the Washington Education Association (WEA) and ignored by school boards.
RCW 41.59.800 prohibited school districts from giving large raises to teachers in union bargaining agreements for 2018 to 2019. Raises were only legal at the rate of state provision plus inflation.
RCW 28A.400.200(4)c(ii) prohibited the use of levies for general salary increases effective September 2019. Only wage enhancements for documented responsibilities, duties or time are allowed.
