Mon, Feb 16 4:46pm
Hey there, RHS Community,
We hope you're enjoying the long weekend. We wanted to send an update on the possibility of a teachers union strike, with an option we are hoping to arrange for alternative childcare.
As you have likely heard, the district (OUSD) and teachers union (OEA) have been in contract negotiations for the past many months, and the OEA declared an impasse. A third-party fact-finding report will be made public on February 19 (this coming Thursday), and we should know within 48-72 hours whether the OEA will call a strike.
In the event a strike is called, it would likely be the last week of February (February 23rd onward). During a strike, the school building will be open, but teachers will not be in their classrooms.
In preparation for this possible strike the week of February 23, the First Covenant Church up by the Lincoln Square Safeway has generously offered their space with lead teachers as a solidarity strike school location for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week. This will involve childcare coverage with non-denominational activities from 9am - 3pm. (They hosted RHS students during the strikes in 2019 and 2023, and we are very grateful to them for their generosity.)
We hope you're enjoying the long weekend. We wanted to send an update on the possibility of a teachers union strike, with an option we are hoping to arrange for alternative childcare.
As you have likely heard, the district (OUSD) and teachers union (OEA) have been in contract negotiations for the past many months, and the OEA declared an impasse. A third-party fact-finding report will be made public on February 19 (this coming Thursday), and we should know within 48-72 hours whether the OEA will call a strike.
In the event a strike is called, it would likely be the last week of February (February 23rd onward). During a strike, the school building will be open, but teachers will not be in their classrooms.
In preparation for this possible strike the week of February 23, the First Covenant Church up by the Lincoln Square Safeway has generously offered their space with lead teachers as a solidarity strike school location for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of that week. This will involve childcare coverage with non-denominational activities from 9am - 3pm. (They hosted RHS students during the strikes in 2019 and 2023, and we are very grateful to them for their generosity.)
This childcare option will only be possible if we secure enough grownup volunteers to help with supervision and know how many students we are trying to accommodate.
Volunteers:
Click here to sign up for a volunteer shift. We may need up to 6 adult volunteers on the site for each shift. Volunteers will be LiveScan finger-printed ahead of time, and the cost will be generously covered by the First Covenant Church.
Families who need childcare:
Complete this form to be put on a waitlist. We will accommodate as many students as we can on a first-come, first-served basis, but we also request that you let us know your degree of need. If we are at capacity, we will give preference to families for whom this is the only childcare option.
Complete this form to be put on a waitlist. We will accommodate as many students as we can on a first-come, first-served basis, but we also request that you let us know your degree of need. If we are at capacity, we will give preference to families for whom this is the only childcare option.
Once we have collected the names of families who would like to join, and confirm we have the volunteers to support our students, we will be in touch to confirm your space.
Thank you so much. We know this is a time of uncertainty, and we will do our best to keep you informed as the situation progresses.
Questions? Email us at pta@redwoodheightspta.org.
Best,
Anna (PTA President) and Vi (Executive VP)