Mount Vernon School District and its paraeducators union group reached an agreement Thursday, Aug. 29, after students and staff missed their first few days of school due to a district-wide strike.
Superintendent Victor Vergara said in a message to parents Thursday that school was canceled on Friday, Aug. 30 as well, but that the district and union had reached an agreement.
“This outcome is the result of the collaborative efforts and dedication of both the union and school district bargaining teams,” the superintendent wrote. “We appreciate the hard work of everyone involved in this process.”
The school district alerted families Tuesday, Aug. 27 — the day before school was set to begin — that there would be no class on Wednesday at any of the district’s six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and two alternative academies.
Collective bargaining between the district administration and the Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) SEIU Local 1948 started in April and wound up in mediation by the end of last week. No agreement was reached in time for the start of the new school year.
Mount Vernon Education Association, the teachers union, joined their colleagues in striking.
On Wednesday morning, around 150 people, a mix of paras, other district staff, other union members and more than a few children and dogs, picketed in front of the district office. Picketers returned on Thursday as the district and the union continued to negotiate.
PSE 1 says on its website the paras are asking for “fair, livable and competitive wages that reflect the importance of the work they do,” adding that the district “has been unwilling to bargain in good faith or provide them with the respect and recognition they deserve.”
Paraeducators are educational support staff that assist students and teachers in and out of the classroom. ZipRecruiter reports that paras in Washington make between $19.33 and $27.79 an hour. In Mount Vernon paras started at $24.73 an hour last school year.
“Despite their necessity, paraeducators across Washington state are not compensated equitably, and for many of them, compensation is not a living wage,” according to a 2024 report by the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. “This makes it difficult for school districts to hire and retain talented paraeducators.”
Because Monday is a holiday, school and student activities will commence on Tuesday, Sept. 3 across the district.
“Beginning Tuesday will allow everyone the preparation time needed and allow for the foundation of a great start to the school year,” Vergara wrote.
Union representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
