Everett schools start Sept. 9, pending contract’s OK

EVERETT

A tentative agreement has been reached between the Everett School District and its teachers.

Negotiators emerged from a marathon bargaining session early Saturday morning, Aug. 29. The session began at 1 p.m. Aug. 28 and followed contract talks on Aug. 27.

The agreement, which still must be approved by teachers and the Everett School Board, schedules the first day of classes for more than 18,000 students for Sept. 9.

Both sides agreed not to release details of the proposal, including the length of the contract, until after teachers have a chance to review it today, Wednesday, Sept. 2.

“We just can’t talk about it until then,” said Mike Wartelle, a union representative.

If teachers approve the contract, the school board is expected to vote on the deal Sept. 8, which is its next scheduled meeting.

Between now and the first day of school, elementary schools will be in touch with families about their children’s classroom arrangements and teachers for the year, said Mary Waggoner, a school district spokeswoman.

Middle and high schools will have that information available for students on the first day of school, Waggoner said.

More information about the school year calendar, including holidays and breaks, will be available after school starts. The district art calendar will be available for staff and families sometime in late September or early October.

In Lake Stevens, bargaining is scheduled to resume Tuesday afternoon and a general membership meeting of teachers is set for Thursday, Sept. 3.

Lake Stevens teachers voted last week to strike if they do not have a contract by the time classes are scheduled to begin Sept. 8.

There are more than 400 teachers and 7,000 students in the Lake Stevens School District. The district operates on a $70.7 million budget.

The union and the school district administration have been in negotiations since May. The labor contract expired Monday, Aug. 30.

Eric Stevick writes for the Herald of Everett.