Seattle schools push to start on time as budget gap looms and union talks drag

With the contract deadline looming and 91% of teachers authorized to strike, Seattle Public Schools faces about a $100 million shortfall and is pressing to start the school year on time; the district has proposed an 8.8% salary increase over three years, while the union flags concerns over special-education staffing ratios and the plan to move services into neighborhood schools, as a mediator joins negotiations ahead of a Wednesday start.