Days after about 300 teachers held an informational picket, North Thurston Public Schools and the North Thurston Education Association, the union that represents teachers in the district, both announced late Monday that the two sides have reached a tentative deal on a new collective bargaining agreement.
The agreement applies to the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years, the district announced. The tentative deal will now proceed through the ratification process.
Union officials said Monday that process will play out at school worksites throughout September, although classes will start as scheduled on Sept. 7. The current contract was set to expire Wednesday, Aug. 31.
"I am proud of our union members who united to fight for better learning conditions for our students," said North Thurston EA President Ray Nelson in a statement. "This TA (tentative agreement) reflects our dedication to public education."
Nelson said in a news release he was pleased with the agreement because it improves student learning conditions, ensures that North Thurston compensation is competitive with neighboring school districts and addresses workloads for special education teachers, elementary and secondary teachers, and education staff associates.
During the informational picket on Aug. 25, River Ridge High School special education teacher Jeff Berland said he sacrificed 37 planning periods last year to fill in for other teachers due to a lack of substitute instructors.
The union represents about 970 teachers in the district.
