Teachers fulfill their promise to ‘begin a work stoppage’

Ken Vance, editor
Clark County Today

Teachers in the Evergreen School District will begin their own work stoppage Wednesday (Aug. 30), the first day students were scheduled to attend classes. The teachers in the Evergreen district join teachers in the Camas School District, who went on strike Monday.

“On Monday, Aug. 28, Evergreen Education Association members informed Superintendent Boyd and the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction that we intend to begin a work stoppage on Aug. 30, the first day of student instruction, if our bargaining team and the district’s team are unable to reach tentative agreement on our collective bargaining agreement,’’ read a statement on the Evergreen Education Association’s Facebook page. “Our goal is a fair contract. And we know that by being united, we will win a contract our staff and students deserve.’’

Late Tuesday afternoon, Evergreen Superintendent confirmed that Evergreen schools will be closed until further notice in an email to families in the district.

“Due to a teachers work stoppage, Evergreen Public Schools will not begin the school year tomorrow, August 30,’’ Boyd wrote. “Schools will be closed until further notice.’’

Boyd continued, “a strike is a major disruption to the lives of our students, staff, families and school community. The district is committed to continuing to bargain with the Evergreen Education Association (EEA) to reach an agreement that is fair to all and is affordable and sustainable. 

“Evergreen Public Schools and the EEA union have been negotiating since March on a new collective bargaining agreement,’’ Boyd stated. “Despite making progress, we unfortunately have not come to an agreement on the terms of a new contract and have been informed by the teachers union that they will be going on strike starting tomorrow. Today’s back-to-school events will continue as scheduled.’’

Boyd said that when the work stoppage/strike begins, school buildings in the district will be closed. Although schools will be closed during the work stoppage the district office will be open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and some services and activities will continue:

• Meals: Free breakfast and lunch will be available for curbside pickup each scheduled school day during the work stoppage. Breakfast will be available from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., and lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (no service on Labor Day, Monday, September 4). All EPS students can get meals at the following sites, regardless of if they attend the school (look for a “Free Lunch” sign at each location):
  • Burnt Bridge Creek Elementary, 14619 NE 49th St. 
  • Columbia Valley Elementary School, 17500 SE Sequoia Circle
  • Ellsworth Elementary School, 512 SE Ellsworth Rd.
  • Image Elementary School, 5201 NE 131st Ave.
  • Sifton Elementary School, 7301 NE 137th Ave.
  • Evergreen High School, 14300 NE 18th St. 
  • Heritage High School,  7825 NE 130th Ave.
  • Mountain View High School, 1500 SE Blairmont Dr.
  • Frontier Middle School,  7600 N.E. 166th Ave.
• Sports: Middle and high school sports will proceed as scheduled. Coaches work under a separate contract, including those who are teachers.
• Registration for new students will be available online and at the EPS Administrative Service Center (district office at 13413 NE LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the strike.
• Information on how to access resources such as food pantries, clothing and school supplies will be available at the Welcome Center in the ASC. The Welcome Center will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the work stoppage. You can also reach the call center by calling (360) 604-4020. 

For updated information on bargaining you can visit the Bargaining webpage. 

Impact on the academic calendar: School closures caused by a strike are much like weather-related school closures, and those dates must be made up. School will resume after the strike is resolved, and students will receive 180 days of instruction regardless of any delays to the school year. As the result of a strike, make-up days will be negotiated as part of the settlement. The district will prepare and distribute a new school calendar at the conclusion of the work stoppage.

“While we continue bargaining, we will use multiple modes of communication to alert families when school is back in session, including emails, social media and on the district website,’’ Boyd said. “Now is a good time to make sure contact information is up-to-date in Skyward.’’

We will continue to keep you updated and provide additional information as this situation progresses. We look forward to getting the school year started and having students back in our schools.  

Sincerely,
John Boyd, Superintendent