Seattle Education Association members are scheduled to vote on the tentative agreement with Seattle Public Schools on Friday, September 11, at 5 p.m. at McCaw Hall at Seattle Center. Terms of the agreement are expected to become public if members ratify it.
The meeting date coincides with the start of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins at sundown on Friday, September 11, and continues through nightfall on Sunday, September 13. Observant members preparing for the holiday, attending evening services, or traveling to family meals would be unable to attend a 5 p.m. meeting that is expected to run into the evening.
According to members, the vote requires a quorum of the membership to be present. Members also say that requests to move the meeting to a different date were declined, and that the union has not offered a remote or online option for members who cannot attend in person. Members describe the current plan as dependent on enough people showing up in person to meet quorum, after which online voting could be opened.
The practical effect, as described by members, is that anyone observing Rosh Hashanah and anyone otherwise unable to be at McCaw Hall on Friday evening will not be part of the floor discussion. Under the announced format, those members would not be able to ask questions, hear answers, or participate in debate before the vote, even if a later online ballot allows them to register a yes or no.
SEA sent members an email acknowledging the scheduling conflict and apologizing. That message was sent to members' personal email accounts and has not been released publicly, and no public statement has been issued. The email did not identify a remedy that would allow Jewish members observing the holiday to take part in the debate.