By John William Howard
Kirkland Reporter
BOTHELL — The Northshore School District and the teachers union came to a tentative contract agreement Thursday evening, meaning classes should start as scheduled Sept. 6.
The contract covers the next three years for the teachers and support staff, who had threatened to strike. Among the more contentious issues were compensation, benefits and school safety.
The district in July agreed to bargain jointly with the separate teacher and support staff unions.
The tentative contract comes less than a day after teachers packed a school board meeting at the union’s request.
“This three-year agreement will enable us to provide a solid foundation for the collaborative relationship that will benefit our schools, our students and our community,” union President Tim Brittell said in a joint statement issued with the district.
Union representatives have spoken highly of the new superintendent, Michelle Reid, who took over for outgoing superintendent Larry Francois.
“I want to thank all of the hardworking professionals involved in this process,” Reid said in the joint statement. “I look forward to serving and supporting this amazing district and community in the coming years.”
The contract must be ratified by the union, with a vote scheduled for Aug. 31.
The contract for the teachers and the contract for support staff were negotiated together, but the contracts are separate, according to the joint statement. The two groups must ratify the contracts separately.
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