If teachers strike, Parks and Rec is expanding their after-school program into day camps.
If teachers strike, Parks and Rec is expanding their after-school program for elementary school kids into day camps. SB

Parents, fear not! If the Seattle Education Assocation—a 5,000-member union made up of Seattle's teachers, instructional aides, nurses, psychologists, and administrative workers—strikes on the first day of school, Mayor Ed Murray says you can try to send your kid(s) to Parks and Rec day camp on September 9, 10, and 11.

"While we still hope that an agreement will be reached to allow school to start on time, the City is making arrangements to provide some relief to impacted families juggling childcare arrangements," Murray said in a statement. "That’s why, for families with children already participating in Seattle Parks and Recreation before- and after-school programs, we will be expanding those program hours for them."

Here's more from the Mayor's Office:

The day camps, which will operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., will take place at 16 designated community centers around the city with capacity for approximately 850 children. They are for youth aged 5 to 12 who are enrolled in regular Parks and Recreation/ARC 2015-2016 school year before- and after-school programs. These day camps will operate only if school is not in session and will operate at no additional cost to families.
 
Parents or guardians can still register children by phone or at their home community centers.

Registration is first-come, first-served. Before- and after-school program registration paperwork must be completed to be eligible.

And here's the list of community centers where you can register your lil' behbehs:

• Northwest Seattle: Ballard, Bitter Lake and Magnolia community centers
 
• Northeast Seattle: Meadowbrook, Northgate and Ravenna-Eckstein community centers
 
• Central Seattle: Miller and Queen Anne community centers
 
• Southwest Seattle: Alki, Delridge, Hiawatha, High Point and South Park community centers
 
• Southeast Seattle: Rainier, Rainier Beach and Van Asselt (with Jefferson) community centers

Another reminder for parents: Teachers aren't prepared to strike over pay alone. SEA members say they voted to strike because they want better learning conditions for kids, too. SEA has proposed a guaranteed 45 minutes of recess so kids don't have to choose between eating and playing, equity teams to address disproportionate disciplining and the achievement gap, as well as more resources for overloaded psychologists, instructional aides, and speech pathologists. More on that here.