Federal Mediator Called in Seattle Teacher Contract Negotiations as Strike Looms

Negotiations between the Seattle Education Association (SEA) and Seattle Public Schools (SPS) have broken down, leading to the district requesting a federal mediator. This development comes after Seattle teachers and school staff voted to authorize a strike, with their current contract expiring on August 31st. Salaries, special education support, and class sizes are key issues in the dispute, which could impact the start of the school year on September 2nd.