MARYSVILLE — It wasn’t what they originally had in mind, but Marysville teachers finally approved a labor contract Thursday night.
The vote, which came five months after they ended the longest teachers strike in state history, was 382 to 101.
Despite the 79 percent "yes" vote, teachers said they reluctantly approved the two-year package, which includes no salary increase for this year and 1.5 percent for next year. Some teachers with up to six years experience will receive raises from the state.
Most teachers agreed the deal was not ideal, but figured it was the best they would get for now. The vote was largely an acknowledgement that the district has hit hard financial times.
"We’re happy," said Judy Caudle, who works in the district office training teachers in math curriculum. "We understand the current economic circumstances in the area, and this is probably the best settlement we can hope for at this time. I think it shows good faith on both sides."
Eric Westlund, who teaches at Marysville-Pilchuck High School, said the district is on the mend.
"I’m sure when I go through the details, it won’t be as good as what Everett got. But I’m thankful after 26 years in this district I still love it here."
"I voted for the contract," said Sue Staar, a teacher at Heritage High School on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. "I think we need to accept it and move on."
"We are united and continue to do what is best for children," said Marj Njaa, a special education teacher at Sunnyside Elementary.
Beth Vavrousek, a teacher at Liberty Elementary, couldn’t predict what the next round of negotiations would bring.
"We’ll have to wait and see what our financial situation in the district is," she said. "Also, we’ll see with the new administration what the tone of the district will be."
Although the package was lean on salary and benefit increases, what the contract proposal didn’t contain was important to the teachers union.
Gone were:
Elaine Hanson, president of the 650-member teachers union, said the strike was necessary.
"By going on strike, Marysville teachers took a stand for ourselves, our profession and Marysville students," she said. "And by going on strike, we successfully fought off all of those egregious, regressive proposals from the previous Marysville School Board. Striking was difficult and challenging, but we do not regret our decision. It was worth it."
The Marysville School Board could vote on the package Monday night.
"I think they must have felt it was a fair offer, and so they voted to approve it," said school board president Vicki Gates. "Now it’s time to focus our energies on other things like the superintendent search and the budget cuts."
It has been a tumultuous year in the Marysville district, beginning with a 98 percent "yes" vote to strike on Sept. 1. It took a judge’s order to force teachers to return to school on Oct. 22.
Anger from the 49-day strike fueled landslide victories for teacher-backed school board challengers Gates, Carol Jason and Michael Kundu in November. Four months later, the new board members — all critical of the way the previous school board and district administration handled the strike — agreed to a $340,000 buyout with Superintendent Linda Whitehead for the final 2 1/2years of her contract.
All the while, enrollment has dropped and the district’s financial condition has worsened.
Last week, the school board received a list of $1.5 million in recommended budget cuts for next year, which would include the equivalent of six teaching slots and two executive director positions. Deeper cuts are expected within the next month.
Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446 or stevick@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
