To the editor:

The South Whidbey Education Association would like to take this opportunity to respond to conversations revolving around the RIF process.

Two years ago, district administration, along with the teachers’ association, discussed, negotiated, agreed to and signed a collective bargaining agreement. This binding document provides an explanation of the rules and procedures governing the RIF or reduction in force process.

We would like to reiterate that this document was a joint creation. We agreed this was the best way to manage staffing in difficult times, such as we are currently facing.

Our association and our district leadership share the goal of retaining as many teachers and programs as possible. We hope our community will join us in finding solutions to the challenges we face.

Jan McNeely and Valerie Brown

SWEA Co-Presidents and SWEA Leadership