News Summary
Evergreen Public Schools has announced a closure on September 3 due to ongoing contract negotiations with the Public School Employees of Washington Union. This marks the second delay in the school year as the district seeks time for bargaining. Key issues include demands for higher wages and better compensation. The union has rejected the district’s proposed pay increases, emphasizing the need for negotiations to continue. Families will have access to free lunches during the closure as both parties strive to reach an agreement.
Vancouver, WA – Evergreen Public Schools announced that there will be no classes on Wednesday, September 3, due to ongoing contract negotiations with the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) Union, which represents approximately 1,400 workers. The decision to delay the start of the school year marks the second such closure for Evergreen Public Schools this year, as the district seeks additional time for bargaining teams to reach a resolution.
The PSE Union consists of employees including bus drivers, IT workers, paraprofessionals, and other classroom support staff. Key demands from the union include higher wages and better compensation for work done beyond contracted hours. Most PSE employees work part-time and operate under a “bell-to-bell” policy, meaning they are compensated only for the time students are in school.
Currently, the district has proposed pay increases of 4.5% for paraprofessionals, 3.5% for transportation staff, and 2.5% for service workers. However, the union has rejected these proposals, stating that the increases are insufficient to retain staff and citing concerns over rising insurance costs that would exceed the proposed salary adjustments.
The strike’s impact is evident, with reports of 10 missing paraeducators at a local school, raising concerns about the level of support for students during this period. Union members voted to strike last week following the lack of progress in negotiations, which have been ongoing despite the option to continue working under the previous contract.
To assist families during the school closure, the district will provide free lunch at designated pickup locations and is committed to updating families daily about the status of school operations. The PSE Union leadership remains focused on negotiating a viable agreement to resume classes as soon as possible.
Union representatives have emphasized the urgency of reaching a fair agreement, citing the need for negotiations to continue as the district has indicated a willingness to engage in further discussions. Mediation meetings are already scheduled to work towards resolving the current issues that have led to the strike.
The situation remains fluid, with families and staff of Evergreen Public Schools awaiting a resolution that would allow students to return to school. As negotiations progress, both parties continue to express hope for a prompt agreement that meets the needs of the staff while ensuring the educational environment necessary for students.
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Additional Resources
- KATU News
- Wikipedia: Teacher Strike
- KGW News
- Google Search: Evergreen Public Schools Strike
- KPTV News
- Google Scholar: Education Union Negotiations
- Washington State Standard
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Education
- KOIN News
- Google News: Evergreen Public Schools
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