UPDATE (Sept. 10, 5 p.m. PT) — School started Monday in Vancouver's Evergreen School District and will start Tuesday in Longview. Teachers in the two districts announced Sunday they would end their strikes after both unions overwhelmingly ratified new contracts.
Teachers in Evergreen, Southwest Washington’s largest school district, agreed to a new two-year contract Sunday. The Evergreen Education Association says 99.5 percent of its members voted to ratify the agreement.
The new contract raises teacher salaries by an average of 11.5 percent. In the first year, salaries for new teachers will start at $51,619 and the most experienced teachers with advanced degrees will receive up to $98,729. In the second year, the salary range increases to $53,474 and $100,618.
"These are life-changing amounts of money," said Evergreen Education Association President Bill Beville. The new contract keeps Evergreen school teachers as the highest paid in the county.
Evergreen school district officials were pleased to welcome students and teachers back into the buildings Monday morning.
"It's been a long two weeks," said Evergreen Public Schools spokeswoman Gail Spolar. "Everybody is ready to start."
A revised school schedule will be released to families by the end of this week.
In Longview, the teachers union, as well as the unions that represent the district’s support staff, were all on strike. More than 97 percent of Longview teachers voted to ratify their contract, while support staff unanimously approved their deal.
“This is a major win for all three of our units," Longview Education Association Ray Clift said in a statement. "We are a very powerful force and our community stood by us."
Longview district officials said they were pleased with the outcome.
“This means that together, we can return to the important work of helping kids learn and grow in the classroom while mending relationships within the district,” Dan Zorn, Longview Public Schools Superintendent, said in a statement.
In Washington this summer, school districts opened up contract negotiations after the Legislature earmarked more than $1 billion to increase teacher pay. In 2012, the state Supreme Court ordered the Washington legislature to fully fund schools.
Teachers remain on strike in Centralia, Tumwater, Tacoma and Battle Ground. In Battle Ground, teachers picketed Monday in advance of the school district’s board meeting.