Hundreds of San Mateo Elementary Teachers to Demand Fair Contract at 7 p.m. School Board Meeting Tonight - Both Sides at Impasse

SAN MATEO – Fed up with district proposals that would increase class sizes and eliminate counselors, hundreds of teachers will protest and demand a fair contract at the San Mateo-Foster City School District school board meeting tonight.

"After going nearly 600 days without a contract, teachers here are at the end of their rope," said Jim Remington, president of the San Mateo Elementary Teachers Association, a chapter of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association. "The school board needs to step in now, or face the consequences. Our members are willing to strike to preserve the quality education program that our communities expect and deserve."

Educators of the 583-member local union have authorized their leaders to call a strike, if necessary. Remington said the two sides are at impasse over several issues, and that Friday is the last scheduled session with a state mediator. The district wants to eliminate many counselors in the middle schools – where the counselor/student ratio is already 400 to 1 – and increase class sizes. Teachers have not proposed a salary increase, but are fighting to improve their health benefits, which rank at the bottom of all San Mateo County school districts and have not been improved since 1994.

· WHAT: Protest at school board meeting by hundreds of teachers in the San Mateo-
Foster City School District over the district's unfair bargaining proposals.

· WHEN: Teachers will gather at 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. school board meeting
tonight (Thursday, Feb. 19).

· WHERE: School district board room, 42 West 42nd Ave., San Mateo.

· VISUALS: Teachers with protest signs, speeches by educators and supporters.