Teachers vote on contract

MOSES LAKE — Teachers involved in the Moses Lake Education Association are voting on a renewed contract.

“We continually try to improve language to ensure all teachers are treated professionally,” said MLEA co-president Doug Boole. “Times change and so do contracts.”

Results are in today. MLEA’s leadership executive board is announcing the outcome to members before starting a formal notification process.

Members were handed a ballot by an MLEA representative. They determined to either ratify the Moses Lake School District’s last offer, go to work continuing to bargain or say, “no contract, no work.”

The first option means teachers agree to the district’s contract. If teachers picked the second, they go to work as usual and re-evaluate a contract in September.

“We will look at progress from the contract and then decide what action to take in preparing the ballot for vote,” Boole said.

The third option means no school on Wednesday.

“Every bargain has a finish,” said Hymes. “If it comes to that, it will be an example of how strongly members feel about this issue.”

Not working is the last resort, said Hymes and Boole.

“They want to be in their classrooms teaching on Wednesday,” Hymes said. “Teachers have been eager for school to start, decorating their classrooms and preparing for students all summer. It is agonizing for teachers to choose this.”

The last contract ended Monday. There is a tentative agreement between MLEA and the school district until further notice, explained Boole.

“Members are the ones determining the issues to ask for,” Hymes said. “They rated these issues high.”

MLEA negotiates contracts every two years. The school district and MLEA have bargained since the beginning of June, said Hymes. School district members and MLEA met Friday. They exchange proposals again the third week of September, said Boole.

MLEA held a meeting for members Monday morning to discuss the contract, processes and procedures. There are about 450 members.

“People were very attentive,” Hymes said. “They talked about their options right now and decided as members.”

Hymes and Boole said all issues concern teachers’ sense of professionalism.

The first issue up for negotiation is individual’s use of planning time. Teachers ask they are given adequate time to prepare for classes and students, Hymes said.

The second is the right of teachers to determine their own pace for giving instruction on curriculum and other content.

“Teachers want to be able to adapt and adjust to students in their classrooms,” Hymes said. “Some kids learn quickly, each have their own pace. Teachers want to determine what is best for their students.”

Another issue raised by teachers is the systematic approach of due process protection. The suggestion is to have a clear outline objectively handling disagreements between teachers and principals.

“We believe we need to establish boundaries for teachers and administrators,” Hymes said. “It would be the same process used across districts continually.”

The last issue is financial. Teachers are requesting compensation for a 7.5 percent rise of insurance costs, a cost of living allowance and a state payday, said Boole.

“They aren’t looking for a raise, but to offset loses thrown at us,” Boole said. “We don’t want to put the district in a financial burden, but we have teachers that are in a financial burden.”

School board members said they remain concerned for the needs of their teachers and have taken these issues into consideration.

“We are hopeful our teachers will continue to meet the needs of kids and parents in the community,” said superintendent Michelle Price. “We hope they will work collaboratively with us to solve issues.”

Board members said MLEA never presented planning as an issue and they are in favor of making formal due process protections.

“We have resolved many language issues,” said deputy superintendent Monte Redal.

The district is working on re-instating the learning improvement day and a payday cut by state.

“Beyond that we have not been able to provide monetary enhancements of any significance because of our financial situation,” Redal said.

Pacing in classrooms is already occurring, Price said.

“Our teachers have the opportunity to support our district curriculum at their own judgment,” Price said. “There is no lock and step pace our teachers are required to be on.”

The board is unable to act upon the state’s decision to freeze the cost of living allowance at this time.

“Our board wants to be fiscally responsible for tax payers’ dollars,” Price said. “We need a contract that (we) will sustain in the future.”

Price mentioned economic uncertainty caused cost of living allowance decisions to be more delicate.

“Our district is trying to be fair,” Price said. “Our board does want to see that (pay) day back in there.”

Board members hope to reach an agreement soon.

“We are really pleased with the start of the upcoming school year, especially the motivation and excitement teachers have shown,” Price said. “We do want to get the contract resolved and put behind us, so it is not issue.”