Centralia School District Sues to Stop Strike

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Centralia teachers will continue to strike, despite the school district’s legal threats to get them back in their classrooms.

The Centralia School District filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the Centralia Education Association and its co-chairs on Thursday afternoon in Lewis County Superior Court. The hearing is set for 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Kerri Kite-Pocklington, co-chair of the teachers union, confirmed Friday afternoon that the teachers plan to continue their strike — even if they do not have a tentative agreement with the district before Tuesday.

“We said we wouldn’t go back to our classrooms without a contract,” Kite-Pocklington said. “We are very much hoping we don’t have to make an appearance in court Tuesday afternoon.”

Kite-Pocklington said the teachers plan to continue picketing after Tuesday’s hearing if there is not a tentative agreement.

The Centralia School District and CEA bargained Thursday, and again on Friday, but did not come to an agreement. The next session is scheduled for Saturday. Centralia is the only school district in Lewis County without at least a tentative agreement for teacher salaries.

“We are hoping that we don’t have to go to that hearing on Tuesday,” said Ed Petersen, public relations and communications coordinator for the district. “If we come to an agreement, and the CEA work stoppage is over, there won’t be a reason for the hearing to happen.”

The injunction specifically named Kite-Pocklington and Lauri Johnson, who is the other co-chair of the union, as well as “all other persons in active concert or participation with or represented by any or all of the above-named defendants.”



“The strike … constitutes a clear violation of the law of the State of Washington,” the complaint for injunctive relief to enjoin illegal strike and declaratory judgment reads. “The strike action is also a breach of the individual employment contracts for the 2018-2019 school year between the District and CEA members.”

The CEA delivered 300 copies of an affidavit to support teachers to Santa Lucia Coffee Roasters. The affidavit is available for parents to sign on Saturday until 3 p.m.

It reads in part, “Although my family and I look forward to the start of school, it is my belief that a properly negotiated resolution of the issues that are dividing the District and the Centralia Education Association will lead to a better educational environment and will ultimately benefit my child/children.”

The motion for preliminary injunction is based on the declarations of Superintendent Mark Davalos, Executive Director of Fiscal Services Karen Curtis, Director of State and Federal Programs David Eacker and Executive Director of Special Education Kate Pothier.

The Centralia School Board passed Resolution 2018-27 on Wednesday evening, which allowed the district to formally suspend classes and file an injunction to get teachers back in the classroom.

The resolution passed unanimously. A previous resolution to address the teacher strike — Resolution 2018-25 — failed at a special school board meeting on Sunday afternoon. Centralia School Board President Amy Buzzard and school board member Lori Fast voted against it.

Resolution 2018-25 contained language which could have disrupted teachers’ health benefits. Buzzard noted before the board voted on Wednesday that all “inflammatory” language was removed in Resolution 2018-27.