Evergreen Public Schools Announce Additional Closures Due to Strike

News Summary

Evergreen Public Schools will remain closed on September 3 due to an ongoing strike by the Public School Employees of Washington Union, impacting 1,400 staff members. The district’s proposals for raises have been deemed insufficient by the union, which is demanding higher wages and better compensation. This strike, characterized by a notable shortage of staff, has prompted the school district to provide lunch services for families during the closure. The district is committed to negotiating with union representatives to reopen schools as soon as possible.

Vancouver – Evergreen Public Schools has announced that schools will be closed once again on Wednesday, September 3, due to an ongoing strike by the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) Union. The closure marks the second consecutive delay in the start of the school year and is a result of unresolved contract negotiations between the school district and the PSE Union. The union represents approximately 1,400 workers, including bus drivers, IT staff, paraprofessionals, and other critical classroom support staff.

The decision to close schools was made to allow more time for bargaining teams to negotiate a potential agreement. Although the union has the option to continue working under the terms of the previous contract for an extended period, its leadership has chosen to strike in pursuit of better compensation. The PSE Union’s primary demands include higher wages and improved compensation for hours worked beyond their contracted hours.

Current proposals from Evergreen Public Schools include a 4.5% pay increase for paraprofessionals, a 3.5% increase for transportation workers, and a 2.5% increase for service staff. However, these proposals have been deemed insufficient by the union, which argues that the suggested increases are inadequate for staff retention and do not align with rising insurance costs that are expected to outpace salary adjustments.

As of now, the strike has led to a shortage of staff, with ten paraeducators missing at one local school, raising concerns over adequate support for students during this time. The district has responded by organizing lunch services for students at designated pickup locations to alleviate the burden on families during the school closure.

The school district has expressed its commitment to continuing negotiations, with mediation meetings scheduled to move forward in hopes of resolving the dispute. Evergreen Public Schools is dedicated to keeping families updated on the status of school operations and any changes that may occur as negotiations unfold. Students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch at select locations during the duration of the strike to support the community.

Background information indicates that many PSE employees work part-time and, as such, their employment is bound by specific working hours, leading to a “bell-to-bell” policy where they are only compensated for the time students are present in school. This situation adds to the complexity of the ongoing negotiations as part-time workers seek adequate compensation for their work and additional hours.

Last week, union members voted in favor of the strike, reflecting strong support for their demands among staff representatives. The negotiations have been characterized by the union’s insistence that the district’s current proposals fail to address their concerns adequately, positioning them to pursue a strike as a means of advocating for better working conditions and pay.

Evergreen Public Schools hopes to promptly reach an agreement with the PSE Union to allow classes to resume for students and has expressed optimism that a resolution will be achieved through ongoing discussions.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Kyrene School District Proposes Closure of Nine Schools
Susquehanna Township Schools Cancel Classes Due to Bus Driver Shortage
Bus Driver Shortage Disrupts Cumberland Valley Schools
Bus Driver Shortage Leads to School Closures in Susquehanna Township
Los Angeles Lists Top Public Middle Schools
Fairview Elementary School Temporarily Closes due to Damage
Excel Academy Public Charter School Announces Sudden Closure
Evergreen Public Schools Postpones Start of School Year

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