VANCOUVER, Wash. — Educators from Evergreen Public Schools voted Monday morning to ratify its new contract with the school district, nearly two weeks after they went on strike. Students in the school district started class two hours late Monday.
The Evergreen Education Association (EEA) announced the update around 9:30 a.m. after educators gathered at Evergreen High School to vote.
The union said the new agreement includes a plan to hire up to 10 certified special-education Student Support Teachers this school year, and up to 12 in the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. General-education teachers will have time to collaborate with K-8 special-education teachers. The new agreement also includes cost-of-living increases of 6.6% in the first year and 5.8% in the second year. Third-year increases will be a minimum of 4.65% and a maximum of 5.05%.
The district's Board of Education will formalize the contract during a meeting on Tuesday.
The EEA and the district spent all weekend at the bargaining table, the union said. Both parties reached a tentative agreement on the new contract around 6:37 p.m. Sunday.
The district lost seven school days as a result of the strike. Those missed classroom days will be added to the district calendar to meet Washington state's requirement of 180 instructional days.
Last week, the district superintendent threatened to withhold pay from striking educators and non-striking support staff, represented by separate unions if they didn't return to work by Monday, according to the EEA.
District Superintendent John Boyd said in the same statement, “We know this work stoppage has been inconvenient and stressful for our families, and the best thing we can do now is come together as a district and give our students the education they deserve. We are determined to do so.” Boyd also mentioned that the district is excited for the new school year to finally start.
Both sides have been bargaining on a new contract since March 21. The EEA said that educators wanted more support for students with special needs, more planning and consultation time by addressing a shortage of substitutes, adequate staffing levels and a promised cost-of-living adjustment.
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