MARYSVILLE — The Marysville Education Association, which set a state record with its 49-day teachers strike last fall, is expected to vote today on a contract proposal.
Details of the district’s latest proposal were not to be disclosed until after today’s session with the 650-member union.
Union leaders have not endorsed the package.
"We will be waiting for the membership’s voices," said Elaine Hanson, the union’s president. "That’s the whole purpose of this meeting — to hear what they think and what actions they want to take."
Teachers voted by a 98 percent margin to strike last fall. The vote followed a district proposal some teachers said would result in a pay cut and more hours of work.
The strike ended Oct. 20 after teachers voted to comply with a Snohomish County Superior Court judge’s order to go back to class. The school year, which by state law must be 180 days, will end in mid-July.
The strike proved an emotional strain in the district of 10,600 students.
Three incumbents were defeated at the polls in November, and their replacements later voted for a $340,000 buyout of Superintendent Linda Whitehead’s contract.
Although neither side has disclosed the contract offer to the teachers, the three new board members said during their campaigns that they would delete some of the elements from previous contract proposals that the teachers found most objectionable.
That included a proposal to convert from a locally bargained salary schedule to a state schedule for the part of their salary that comes from the state. Some of the district’s most experienced teachers could have faced pay cuts or had their salaries frozen. The district later revised its offer to say it would guarantee that no teachers would have their salaries cut, although many would have had them frozen.
The district’s finances have hit hard times since the school board adopted an $82.25 million budget in August. Declining enrollment from the struggling economy and strike-weary families enrolling their children elsewhere left the district reeling.
The district had the equivalent of 11,076 full-time students last year. Enrollment had dropped to 10,673 by March. The district is projecting to lose another 200 students in each of the next two years.
The district is preparing two rounds of job cuts to make up for the losses. The first round of recommendations included $1.5 million in cuts that include the equivalent of more than 16 jobs, including six teacher positions and two top administrative posts.
The next round, expected within the next two months, would likely be deeper.
"We are certainly hopeful that teachers will take the latest proposal from the district," said Judy Parker, the district’s spokeswoman. "We believe it’s a fair offer, considering our budget constraints."
Teachers will begin their meeting at 4 p.m. today at Marysville-Pilchuck High School. Results aren’t expected until after 7 p.m.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
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