I am pleased to announce that the Association and District bargaining teams reached a Tentative Agreement for a 3-year contract late Friday afternoon! Although bargaining got off to a slow and frustrating start for our first 5 days, on Thursday morning the log jam broke and we started making good progress. 

Highlights of the Tentative Agreement include some modest enhancements to compensation, additional groups having trigger language, some workload relief provisions, many language improvements, and a host of small improvements requested by groups or individuals.  In addition, there is a significant expansion and improvement to classload relief funds, especially those targeting classes with a high concentration of high needs students (Learning Support, ELL, 504), contingent on the passage of the August 17th supplemental levy. 

Your Association bargaining team believes it is a fair contract, and they are proud to present it to members for ratification at the General Membership meeting on August 30th at 5 p.m. at Edmonds Woodway High School.  Full details of the Tentative Agreement will be available at that time. 

Please thank the members of your bargaining team—Dave Wood, Brent Eschrich, Mary McBride, Dan Gossett, Tom Pirie, Anne Gregerson, Bill VanWyck, Larry Wilson, and Andi Nofziger—for all the hours they spent this year to bargain your contract! It was not an easy task, but their fortitude and preparation resulted in contract improvements for all members of the Edmonds Education Association.