Moses Lake teachers, district reach agreement

Sides to ratify contract in September

MOSES LAKE- The night before school started within the Moses Lake School District, Teachers and the district reached agreement for a new two-year contract.

Moses Lake Education Association Co-President Michele Kittrell said Wednesday morning they reached a "tentative" agreement with the district.

"The bargaining teams met for 54 hours in order to reach this tentative agreement," she said. "I think both sides feel it was a very good settlement. It was financially responsible, with both the district to compensate teachers and lower class size."

"We've been bargaining for the last week and we finally reached settlement at 9:30 (Tuesday) night," School District Superintendent Steve Chestnut echoed. "I think we have a good settlement, I think it's a win-win for both sides and it's a two-year agreement, so we're happy to have it resolved."

Chestnut said the district believes it's a good contract and said he was excited to have school start.

"It's going to be a great school year, and so we're ready to move forward," he said.

Teachers sought smaller classroom sizes, special education class size limitations, assistance in overcrowded classrooms and a salary increase. The association and the district have been meeting since April and declared an impasse earlier in the month.

Both Kittrell and Chestnut declined to discuss settlement terms until the agreement is ratified. Kittrell expected the association would ratify the two-year contract Sept. 5. Chestnut said the school district will ratify the contract at its next scheduled board meeting Sept. 13.

Kittrell thanked both bargaining teams.

"It's important you realize both sides spent that amount of time," she said. "We had great support by all of our members."