News Summary
Evergreen Public Schools has announced school closures due to a strike by the Public School Employees of Washington. The strike, involving about 1,400 union members, is aimed at negotiating better wages and working conditions. Despite ongoing negotiations, the union has rejected the district’s current pay proposals, leading to disruptions in student support services. The school district is providing meals for students during this time and remains committed to resolving the situation swiftly to return to normal operations.
Vancouver – Evergreen Public Schools has announced that there will be no school on Wednesday, September 3, due to an ongoing strike by the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) Union. This notice marks the second consecutive delay in the start of the school year as contract negotiations between the district and the union remain unresolved.
The PSE Union, which represents about 1,400 workers including bus drivers, IT personnel, paraprofessionals, and various classroom support staff, is advocating for higher wages and compensation for working hours that extend beyond their contracted time. Currently, many PSE employees work part-time hours under a “bell-to-bell” policy, meaning they are only compensated for the duration students are present.
Despite the option to continue under their previous contract for the entire year, union leaders have opted to strike, emphasizing the need for better pay and insurance coverage that keeps pace with rising costs. Currently, the school district has proposed a pay increase of 4.5% for paraprofessionals, 3.5% for transportation staff, and 2.5% for service workers, but these proposals have been rejected by the union, which claims they are insufficient for attracting and retaining staff.
The strike has already led to significant disruptions, including the absence of 10 paraeducators at a local school, raising concerns about the level of student support during this period. In response to this closure, the school district will provide free breakfast and lunch for students at designated pickup locations to ensure that children do not go without meals during this challenging time.
The district is still actively pursuing negotiations and has expressed a willingness to reach an agreement to resume normal school operations as quickly as possible. Mediation meetings are scheduled to continue, and updates regarding the status of school operations will be communicated to families daily to keep them informed throughout the resolution process.
As the negotiations persist, it remains to be seen how quickly an agreement can be achieved. The repeated closures have stressed the importance of effective communication and support for students and families affected by this situation. The school district’s commitment to resolving this matter reflects its dedication to providing a stable educational environment for students in the Evergreen community.
This ongoing situation serves as a reminder of the challenges faced in the education sector, particularly regarding the balance of the needs of dedicated school staff and the resources available within the district. The outcome of these negotiations is anticipated to not only impact the immediate future of the school year but also set a precedent for how similar issues are handled moving forward.
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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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MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER The MILWAUKEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMilwaukee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Summerfest, Milwaukee Film Festival, and the Milwaukee Boat Show. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Visit Milwaukee, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and brewing that power the local economy such as Harley-Davidson and MillerCoors. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Wisconsin's dynamic landscape.
