LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County Education Association announced teachers would walk out of the classrooms on September 10 if their demands to the Clark County School District weren't met at the Board of Trustees meeting on August 22.
That meeting did not end well.
After a heated public comment period, the trustees announced that the meeting wold take place at a later date. Teachers responded by chanting, "We'll be back."
The board was set to consider a contract offer with the teacher's union giving them increased pay and benefits. The union has demanded more and signaled that they would go on strike if that was all the district offered.
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If teachers do decide to walk, administrators at Peace Garden Child Care on Rainbow Boulevard said they would offer special programs to anyone affected by the strike.
"These children can't help what's going on," Assistant Director Tyera Welch said.
Welch said that, if the school district can't get enough substitute teachers to fill teacher vacancies and classes skyrocket, they offer education programs for children as old as 12, and they're planning to work with each family to meet their needs.
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"If we have to lower our rates, extend hours, even though we're already open 24 hours a day, we're here to help," Welch said.
Peace Garden administrators said they would lower their weekly rate for 10 hours of education by $60 to $100.
Director Erica Holden said their employees are hoping the district resolves teacher's union demands making the strike unnecessary, but their day care staff could serve as an education stop-gap if that happens.
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"We have great rates," Holden said. "They're low and affordable."
Holden said Peace Garden teachers have been trained in early education and follow a structured curriculum daily.
"We want to make sure these kids have the quality care they need," she said. "To make sure they're still learning here like they would in CCSD."
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The Clark County School District began an aggressive recruitment campaign for substitutes and retired teachers in response to the strike threat laid down by CCEA.
In a statement, Superintendent John Vellardita said, "With approximately $69 million on the table, a request for additional funding would only cause a greater deficit for out district..."
Jara said the district will be waiving fingerprint costs for substitute teachers and calling for support from retired teachers as they prepare for the impending walk-out.
