Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, August 23, 2008 Marysville teachers union, district OK tentative deal By Kaitlin Manry Herald Writer MARYSVILLE -- At the conclusion of a 17-hour meeting, Marysville teachers and the Marysville School District agreed on a tentative contract at 1 a.m. Friday. "Sometimes when you get to that point where you know you're close, the momentum is there," said Arden Watson, president of the Marysville Education Association. "You want to keep going and get to a settlement -- so that's what we did." The teachers' existing contract expires on Aug. 31. When contract negotiations broke down in 2003, Marysville teachers staged the longest school strike in state history. Union officials and administrators say they won't discuss the details of the tentative three-year contract until union and school board members have read it. Members of the Marysville Education Association plan to meet Tuesday to ratify the contract. Watson said she is recommending that members approve it. The Marysville Education Association represents about 680 teachers, counselors and other certificated school employees in the district, which has about 11,500 students. The Marysville School Board is scheduled to vote on the contract on Sept. 8. Negotiations began in May and picked up during the summer, said Assistant Superintendent Gail Miller. While the two groups worked through challenging issues, they maintained a friendly, respectful relationship, Miller said. "It's great," she said Friday. "It assures people that there are not problems and issues between the two teams -- that we've been able to work together well and have come to a tentative agreement." Also on Friday, teachers and staff in the Northshore School District reached a tentative three-year contract agreement with district officials. Union members are expected to vote on the new contract on Wednesday. Reporter Kaitlin Manry: 425-339-3292 or kmanry@heraldnet.com.

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