St. Paul teachers have voted to authorize a strike.
The "yes" votes came from 82 percent of the union's 3,500 members, which include teachers, educational assistants and school and community professionals.
They're asking for more mental health teams, multi-lingual staff and a larger emphasis on special needs.
A strike date will be announced next week.
St. Paul schools superintendent Joe Gothard released a statement:
“We are extremely disappointed our educators continue down a path toward a strike. Our students, families, coworkers and community expect all of us to work together and avoid a strike, and that’s what I am committed to doing. As superintendent and as an SPPS parent, I know the uncertainty that talk of a strike brings to our students, families and community,” he continued. “I can assure you the district is doing everything possible to reach an agreement before a strike happens.”
State law requires the union to give the district at least 10 days notice before the first day of the strike.
The next round of bargaining is scheduled for March 4, although Gothard has asked district negotiators to be ready for mediation at any time.
St. Paul teachers have not gone on strike since 1946.
They did vote to strike two years ago, but came to an agreement before the walkout was scheduled to begin.
