Students applaud as Forest Park teachers stage 'Work to Rule'

Teachers walked out of Forest Park High School as a group to the sound of applause at 2:18 p.m. Monday.

As the teachers made their ways to the faculty parking lot, students stood outside the school and showed support for their educators.

Teachers at Forest Park, Battlefield and Patriot High Schools, as well as Potomac Middle, started a “Work to Rule” campaign Monday in response to the recent school budget proposal.

Superintendent Steven L. Walts’ proposed budget does not include a step increase for any schools employees for a third year in a row. There are no plans for staff or program reductions, either.

The budget, which was discussed at two recent School Board meetings, also indicates that there are no plans for raises until 2016 at the earliest.

On Monday, teachers entered their respective schools as a group at the same time — 7:15 a.m. at the high schools — and left schools when their contract hours ended at 2:15 p.m.

A crowd of about 30 teachers walked out the front door of Forest Park to their cars shortly after that scheduled time, many of them wearing “Work to Rule” pins.

Nicholas Watkins, an English teacher for 10th and 11th grades at Forest Park, said around double that number walked in together in the morning.

“There were 50 to 60 teachers,” he said, wearing a “Work to Rule” badge.

Teachers and staff members who receive stipends or other compensation for coaching athletic teams or other like commitments remained at the school as required. Watkins said that contributed to a lower turnout at the end of the day.

“And a lot of them had already left because the parking lot wasn’t as full as it was in the morning,” he added.

Photography teacher Mietta Solliday said it was a strange feeling coming in at 7:15 a.m., about a half hour later than normal.

“Some of the teachers are here at 6:30 in the morning, or 6:45,” she said. “Leaving was definitely the biggest difference.”

But between those times, it was business as usual in the school.

“Rushed,” Watkins said he felt. “Nothing in our school today at all has been negative. The majority of everyone — including the students — support us. They see the buttons and they’re like ‘I know what that means!’”

“They read the paper. A lot of them know,” Solliday said. “A lot of kids talked to me about it. I had a couple kids ask me if they could have a button so they could wear it and support us.”

The duo said that the campaign did not distract from learning, however, as they made a point to keep any discussions brief.

“I told them the issue is in the newspaper and to read it,” Watkins said. “Some of them have said they would’ve done this, too.”

The Prince William Education Association disagrees with the move, though.

The “Work to Rule” campaign has not been sanctioned or endorsed by the PWEA, who instead held a special all-members meeting at Benton Middle School Monday to discuss the advocacy group’s next course of action.

PWEA leaders said it is too early in the budget process for a move like “Work to Rule,” though they could support it at a later time.

This week, PWEA members will hold two grade-in events: One at Tuesday’s Board of County Supervisors meeting at the James J. McCoart Administration Building; the second will take place during the county’s School Board meeting at the Kelly Leadership Center on Wednesday.

During grade-ins, teachers sit quietly in a location and do school-related work they normally do outside the school day, such as grading papers and tests and working on lesson plans.

Watkins and Solliday said they plan to participate in those demonstrations, too.

“We’re planning on doing everything. We’re not going to stop doing one thing in lieu of another,” Watkins said.

At last week’s public School Board meeting on the budget, PWEA vice president David Kinsella warned the board that the budget as it is currently constructed could drive qualified teachers away.

“Teachers are leaving already,” Solliday said.

“I will be doing so, yeah,” Watkins said. “I’m going to be looking outside of teaching. This will be my last [teaching] job. I’m a five-year teacher and I’m being paid a second-year teacher. What’s the point?

“I love the kids, but clapping doesn’t buy food.”

Staff writer Joe Conroy can be reached at 703-530-3912.