The vote is in. A strike by the Portland Association of Teachers will start Feb. 20 if contract negotiations with the district continue to stall. Although teachers have voted, almost unanimously according to OregonLive, to walk out, contract talks will still take place during the mandatory 10-day cooling off period. The next meeting date for is set for this Sunday, Feb. 9.

Nearly 3000 teachers met at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall to vote. By 5:30 that evening, students, parents, and community members from across the district demonstrated against a strike. The rally was preceded by an estimated 1,000 students walking out of class in support of the teachers in Portland high schools such as Lincoln, Cleveland, Grant, Madison, and Jefferson.

“I didn’t think the negotiations would even go this long,” said Andrew Davidson, a Grant High School senior, who is the student representative on the school board. “[I also] didn’t anticipate the total disregard for student well-being.”

School board co-chairmen Pam Knowles and Greg Belisle released a statement in response to the PAT vote. They said they are “committed to reaching a negotiated settlement” and that their goal is “to reach an agreement that adds teachers to schools, adds school days, raises teacher pay and maintains strong benefits.”According to a letter to families from PPS Superintendent Carole Smith, in the event of a strike, PPS’s goal is “to keep schools open and to continue to support students and families.”

However, the district has yet to release its plans for a strike. According to an article from the Portland Tribune,  the majority of substitute teachers are standing with the union and have agreed to honor the picket line. This means there could not be enough subs to fill the 2,900 spots that could be vacated by teachers.

Students are concerned about the strike because it would result in even less instructional time for the school year. “I think the strike is a big deal,” said sophomore Colin Phipps. “For me personally, because my Constitution Team coach has assured me a ‘full education’ if school is closed, it doesn’t affect me as much,” he said, “but for students who don’t have that privilege won’t get their education for a while.”