Reading the Dec. 2 editorial in the Sammamish Review, one can easily believe that Scrooge has come to Sammamish. School secretaries in the Lake Washington School District are asking for a wage increase because they need to be able to support themselves and their families living in this area. School secretaries have not received a wage increase over the past three years. Whatever increase may be received will be for the next few years, once the new contract is finalized. And how much are school secretaries asking for? The editorial got its facts wrong and claims we’re looking for $23-$24 an hour. That is the amount needed to support basic living expenses in the area served by the LWSD. In fact, we’re negotiating with the district for an increase of at least 10 percent. That means an increase of $1.35 to $2.08 an hour for our members. A LWSD secretary currently being paid $13.53 an hour would make $14.88 – and the highest paid secretaries presently at $20.80 an hour would move to $22.88. It might do well to remember that without us, there would be no friendly greeting when a new student enters a building, the doors wouldn’t open, the phones wouldn’t be answered, students wouldn’t receive correct medications.

The Lake Washington Educational Support Personnel