Credit: KTNV

Union and district negotiations now sit at a standstill as concerns grow over the Clark County School District (CCSD) teacher’s strike.

There are questions about how many teachers will leave their classrooms empty and the impact it will have across schools in the county. There are more than 18,000 teachers in CCSD. Less are part of the teachers’ union, CCEA, and far fewer authorized this strike back in May in an online survey. Several teachers say that no matter how many walk, there will still be disruption.

El Dorado High Teacher Adam Berger stood alone outside of CCSD headquarters as CCEA and district administrators failed to come together on negotiations that could end an impending teacher’s strike.

“I wanted to stand in solidarity with my union brothers and sisters,” said Berger.

His one-man demonstration comes after 1,200 teachers rallied at a Board of Trustees meeting, a movement that union executive director John Vellardita says is growing.

“I think what we’re sitting on a is a tinderbox,” said Vellardita.

But the union doesn’t hold sway over the entire district. CCSD says there are more than 18,000 teachers working right now, whereas the union has 11,000 members.

The vote that authorized the strike in May only had 5,000 responses. Roughly three-quarters, or 3,900 voted to strike if necessary; that’s only 21 percent of all teachers in the district.

“Teachers are suffering,” said Berger.

He believes, no matter of his fellow teachers walk, it will be enough to send a message.

“Between 3,000-5,000 or 5,000-9,000, it wouldn’t make a difference,” said Berger.

CCSD has promised to keep schools open and begun an aggressive recruitment campaign for subs and retired teachers to fill potential vacancies.

“You’ll never find enough subs,” said Vellardita.

He says with subs already filling 750 vacancies before the strike, it’s unlikely the recruitment campaign will be effective.

“I’ll repeat again, they will never find enough subs to fill the vacancies they have right now, let alone fill any subs to fill classrooms that might be empty as a result of a strike,” said Vellardita.

Both sides have signaled that they are willing to continue negotiations, but they haven’t said when the next meeting will be.