By The Kent Reporter

The Kent Education Association, the teachers’ union for the Kent School District, voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to strike.

A total of 86.4 percent of the union membership voted in favor of going on strike, for issues related to time, workload and wages.

The strike could delay the start of school for some Renton-area students. The first day of school in the Kent School District is Aug. 31.

The Kent district includes seven schools with Renton addresses – Kentridge High School, Northwood Middle School, Meeker Middle School, Ridgewood Elementary School, Fairwood Elementary School, Glenridge Elementary School and Carriage Crest Elementary School.

Kent district officials have already indicated that the high school sports preseason practice schedule will not be affected by the strike; however, games may be affected.

Students in the Renton School District start school on either Sept. 2 or 3.

A total of 1,500 Kent educators attended the meeting at Kentlake High School – 200 shy of KEA’s total membership. With the vote, that means the strike went into effect at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Starting Thursday morning, KEA picket lines will form at all Kent School District schools.

Local police are aware of the activity.

“We know if the strike goes, they will be at the schools,” said Kent Police Lt. Rafael Padilla in a Wednesday phone interview. “There could be anywhere from a handful to a dozen or so teachers at entrances to the schools.”

No special permits or registrations from the city are needed by the teachers to picket, Padilla said. Teachers are allowed on the public right of way along sidewalks near the schools, but they cannot block traffic.

“Generally, our approach is awareness,” Padilla said. “We don’t anticipate a significant need for a security presence. Our approach is we’ll make our beat officers aware and have them drive through and check in with picket captains, so there will be a presence versus having an officer stand guard.”