BOTHELL — Teacher salary wasn’t the sole focus of a new three-year contract negotiated between union members and the Northshore School District.
In part, that’s because they already passed a 19.2% raise last fall. More than 90% of union members approved a contract Thursday that will give teachers a 2% pay bump and paraeducators a 5.14% increase in their salaries. As a result, teacher salaries will range from $61,200 to $119,379 in the coming school year.
The agreement also includes money for new counselors, nurses, psychologists and audiologists, as well as positions for special education and English Language Learner instruction.
In addition, the district and union agreed to set aside $700,000 for future negotiations, regarding how to expand resources, including mental health services for students in the 2020–21 academic year.
Northshore Education Association President Tim Brittell called the contract a significant step toward meeting the challenges of “unprecedented growth” in the 60-year-old district, which is the eighth largest in the state. Northshore is host to 23,000 students, 3,000 staff and 33 schools.
In 2020, school leaders expect to open doors for a new elementary school in Maltby and a 30-classroom building on the Skyview Middle School and Canyon Creek Elementary campus. And the district recently bought property for a new high school.
But Brittell said a lot more needs to be done to address the issues of overcrowding in classrooms and expected growth. Some of that falls on the state, he said.
“While the McCleary decision has provided a significant increase in resources available to support our students, our state Legislature still has work to do to provide adequate funding for students with disabilities and to provide all students with class sizes that support more individualized education for our students,” he said in a statement.
Overall, Brittell said Friday that negotiations went smoothly and that the staff and administration worked well together.
“This is one of the best bargains I’ve ever experienced,” he said.
Brittell credited that to a new negotiation format. This year, instead of the traditional approach, in which each side draws up separate contracts and figures out compromises later, the two parties talked about their respective interests ahead of time and worked together to formulate an agreement.
“The strength of our district lies in the quality of the people,” said Northshore Superintendent Michelle Reid . “I couldn’t be prouder of the educators in this great district. This vote reflects our shared dedication to continuing our work in supporting and preparing each and every one of our students for success beyond graduation.”
The Northshore School Board will decide on Sept. 9 whether to approve the contract.
Zachariah Bryan: 425-339-3431; zbryan@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @zachariahtb.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
