Bellevue Education Association

The Bellevue Education Association is a professional association and union that serves as an advocate for its members and empowers the individuals it represents. It promotes positive educational working environments, safeguards members' rights, informs and works with the extended community, provides representation on educational issues and acts to obtain the resources necessary to insure excellence in public education.

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https://www.washingtonea.org/ejoin/

Members of School Board and District Leaders,

We know the difficult position that our district is in and acknowledge that enrollment decline and lack of state funding is at the heart of this. We have asked for clarity each and every day. The transparency has been lacking.

We empathize with our educators who are at Wilburton, Eastgate, Ardmore, Spiritridge and those that may be additionally impacted. It is difficult to hear that your school or program is slated to close or be consolidated. Especially when these buildings mean so much to us.

Our educators are the people that create the climate and culture of a school, no matter the building.

I want you to reflect on the impossible situation that you have put our educators, students, and community through during this process. In a time where we need unity the most, people have been divided. Clarity could have calmed the chaos.

Have you made it clear to the community that if consolidation does not happen, our staff are subject to layoffs? Do families understand the impact to supports and special services, which support the growth and development of our children? Our students deserve to have as many educators supporting them as possible. Bellevue is special because of our incredible programs, and the impact is on both educators and students if programs are cut.

You have said that choosing not to consolidate schools would also put our newest and early career educators in a position where they could be facing layoffs. We are advocating that you retain as many educators as possible across the district.

It is a difficult position to face - to have to fight for your school or your job. This perception could have been avoided. As Union leadership, our job is to uphold the collective bargaining agreement, and to advocate for our members and students to have as many resources as possible. As a District, your responsibility was to communicate the facts and answers.

Be clear. Be direct. Be honest with your staff, families, students, and yourselves.

Reflect on this process and how it has impacted our staff. Our path forward is together, but you need to lead the way with honesty and empathy.

Signed,

Jill Rock

Regen Lorden

Abigail Horsfall

Sara Clarke

Lena Pothitou-West

Mark Wilbert

Kim Hay

Dave Jensen

Michelle Mordaunt

Anna Silarski

BEA Executive Board

President: Jill Rock

BEA Office

Vice President: Regen Lorden

BEA Office

Secretary: Abigail Horsfall

International School

Treasurer: Sara Clarke

Highland Middle

Equity Specialist: Marnie Kazarian Olson

Enatai Elementary

Early Career Educator Specialist: Tasha Dhoot

Wilburton Elementary

High School Rep: Anna Silarski

International School

Middle School Rep: Dave Jensen

Tillicum Middle School

Elementary Rep: Kyle Reimergartin

Spiritridge Elementary

Elementary Rep: Lena Pothitou-West

Somerset Elementary

Classroom-Based Services: Kim Hay

Tillicum Middle School

ESA Rep: Michelle Mordaunt

Highland Middle School

Specialist Rep: Mark Wilbert

BSD Central Office

Sammamish UniServ Council Board Representative

Eve Chan

Jill Rock

Regen Lorden

Chad Harper

Maya Vergien

MLK Labor Council

Stephen Miller

Two open seats

BEA Rep. Council Endorses BSD Levy Renewal

On December 16, 2021, the BEA Representative Coucil unanimously voted to endorse the BSD Levy Renewal. The vote will be held February 8th. Click here to read more about the two levy renewals.

BEA Rep. Council supports BSD Community Agreements

On December 16, 2021, the BEA Representative Coucil voted to sign the BSD Community Agreements written by Interlake High School senior Priyanka Mukhara.

The full text of the Community Agreements is below:

Dear BSD community members,

The effort to create accepting, anti-racist communities within our Bellevue schools has persisted for many years. With BSD staff, students, and administrators working towards our own personal ideals, it has come time for us to work together to reach a common vision, and to expand our efforts towards a shared goal.

With the intent to create a tolerant, anti-racist BSD culture and community, we work towards:

1. Adopting the goals of the anti-racist petition on a district-level.

2. Implementing the anti-racist practices outlined in the petition within individual classrooms.

3. Including student representation on high school building REI teams.

4. Encouraging the development of race, sexuality, and other identity-based affinity groups at all BSD schools.

a.Ensuring the presence of a SOAR chapter at each school.

BEA Constitution Changes - Election Results (2/3 voting members in favor needed to pass)

1.) Article VII, Section 4- Representative Council

(Addition of 6 new At-Large Representative Council positions)

PASSED: 87.78% - YES, 12.22% - NO

2.) Article VII, Section 5 - Representative Council

(Term date to start on July 10th)

PASSED: 93.41% - YES, 6.59% - NO

3.) Article VIII, Section 2 - Executive Board

(Addition of 2 At-Large Executive Board positions)

PASSED: 78.28% - YES, 21.72% - NO

Eastside Pathways Equity Pledge

On September 23, 2021, our BEA Representative Council voted to sign the Eastside Pathways Equity Pledge as a Partner Organization.

Eastside Pathways Equity Pledge participants believe that:

Race is a human-invented social construct and a classification system used as a tool for oppression and violence.
Racism is designed to privilege White people and set “Whiteness” as the norm.
Acknowledging racism and its impact on all people, particularly people of color, is foundational to doing racial equity work.
Courage, accountability and collaboration are key leadership skills to reimagine our community and how we operate within it.
Addressing internalized, interpersonal, institutional and structural inequality (particularly racial inequity) leads to more diversity and inclusion.