News Summary
Evergreen Public Schools remains closed as the Public School Employees union strike enters its second week. Classes are canceled, impacting thousands of students. The district has established meal programs and expanded childcare in light of this disruption. Negotiations are ongoing, with both sides seeking a fair resolution amidst budget constraints. The strike began with the new school year, causing significant challenges for families. While athletics will proceed, transportation services are not provided during this period. Legal action has been initiated against the striking workers by the school board.
Vancouver, WA – Evergreen Public Schools will be closed on Monday as a strike by the Public School Employees (PSE) Large Group classified union enters its second week. This ongoing strike has resulted in the cancellation of classes for the second consecutive Monday, leaving thousands of students in the Vancouver-area district without a formal educational setting.
Although school buildings will remain closed, the district’s Administrative Service Center will operate during regular hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In response to the strike, the district has made provisions for students, including free meal offerings at two high schools and expanded child care options to support affected families.
No agreement was reached during weekend negotiations between the district and union representatives, prompting the union to continue picketing daily at the District Office from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The picketing activities are taking place at 13413 N.E. LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive in Vancouver. During discussions, the union contested the district’s claim that the PSE team walked away from negotiations, asserting that the district had requested to cease bargaining following the union’s five proposals, in contrast to just one counteroffer from the district.
The district’s negotiation team met on Friday and Saturday, with another meeting scheduled for Monday morning. Their aim is to strike a balance that is financially sustainable while still being fair to all parties involved, given the current budget constraints faced by the district.
As for student support during the strike, the district is providing free meals at:
- Heritage High School: Meals will be distributed from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- Mountain View High School: Meals will be served from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
In addition, child care services have been expanded to support families during this turbulent time. Right at School will host Family Care Camps at nine elementary schools, operating daily from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Clark County Family YMCA will also offer camps for district students, running from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Furthermore, while middle and high school athletics and activities are set to continue, the district will not provide transportation services.
Families will receive specific schedules and location information directly from their respective schools, ensuring that they are informed about athletics and support services available during the strike.
The strike began on August 22, coinciding with the scheduled return of students for the new school year, which has led to difficulties for parents concerning child care and meal arrangements. On Friday, the Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors unanimously voted to allow legal action against the striking workers, referring to the strike as “unlawful.” The union had previously rejected the district’s final offer in a vote conducted on Thursday, prior to the ongoing negotiations.
As discussions continue, the situation remains fluid, and both the district and union are under pressure to find a resolution that meets the needs of the students and the operational realities of the schools.
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Additional Resources
- KPTV: Evergreen Public Schools No Class Announcement
- KGW: Evergreen Public Schools Classes Canceled
- Washington State Standard: Strike Delays Start of Classes
- Seattle Times: Evergreen Public Schools Strike Continues
- KOIN: Class Canceled for Evergreen Public Schools
- Wikipedia: Teacher Strike
- Google Search: Evergreen Public Schools Strike
- Google Scholar: Evergreen Public Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Teacher Union Strike
- Google News: Evergreen Public Schools
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