Once again, teachers unions are getting in the way of education. It’s pathetic that teachers from the Lake Washington School District (LWSD) are taking a school day to run to Olympia to rally on everything from pay raises to classroom sizes. Instead of robbing students of a school day, maybe the union should suggest their membership use a Saturday similar to the strong showing in Olympia on April 25.

More importantly, however, is looking at how the Legislature is working on the next state budget with an increase of $1.3 billion in education spending. Instead of looking at how the Legislature is working through the complex budget process, and offering solutions, the union is behaving like children with old-school illegal strike tactics that don’t work anymore. Sadly, this is how unions typically operate, especially the powerful teachers union and lobby. If the teachers unions want stronger support, I would like to ask they provide the public with information to make their case stronger instead of relying high-speed arm-waving and emotion.

In LWSD, we are already limited to 4.5 days of school per week because of how the union negotiates labor contracts, with many “in service” days. I think it’s time to push back.

Here are 10 questions I challenge the unions and striking teachers to answer:

1. Is “fully funded” education possible in Washington, as the union defines it?

2. Is “fully funded” education a silver bullet that means our public schools will be perfect?

3. How much money is actually needed, not just desired? I’d like to see the business breakdown here and not an unrealistic number from a union.

4. If teachers get fully funded with the largest proposed cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) increases in years, how will they be held accountable? The union wants to avoid teacher performance accountability at all costs.

5. If teachers are fully funded, will unions continue to protect poor terrible teachers who should be terminated? The bottom line: Just as with any properly managed organization, poor performance should lead to termination, not protection.

6. If education is already the largest portion of the Washington budget, where does the rest of the money come from to be “fully funded”? New taxes?

7. What other programs will have their budgets cut to “fully fund” Washington schools and COLA raises?

8. Is an illegal one-day strike REALLY the only way a union can get the public on board to work with Olympia?

9. What budget solutions has the union offered to make sure schools are “fully funded”? My guess is they are relying purely on the Supreme Court ruling without offering any solutions on how to get there. I’d like to see ideas based on facts here and not emotional propaganda that only talks about class sizes and pay raises. 10. Why should we blindly support teachers and not ask tough questions of their unions? Does that mean I don’t support public schools if I “don’t get on board” with the teachers? Nope.

It’s really hard for me to see how more money solves public education problems without seeing the path to overall improvement. Regarding COLA raises… fine. I understand the challenges of working without raises for a while. You are hard pressed to find a lot of folks who have had raises since 2008. Usually you don’t see them walkout of a day of work en masse to complain about a pay raise.

I’m willing to look at the budget facts and consider solutions in the interest of student education. A union that only wants to go with a strike option doesn’t score points with me and I won’t follow with blind emotion. I give LWSD teachers and their union leaders a D- on this effort. I expect better.

Brian Hansford, Redmond