Moses Lake teachers go to work

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake Education Association (MLEA) teachers voted to return to school as scheduled, while continuing to bargain their contract with Moses Lake School District.

“We are continuing the process,” said MLEA co-president Doug Boole. “Our negotiation team is working with the school district’s negotiating team to set dates.”

Other options were to ratify the latest contract offer or strike.

About 96 percent of Moses Lake Education Association teachers were against ratification, said Boole.

“They didn’t feel district had come far enough to even vote on a tentative agreement,” Boole said.

District members said they want to create a fair contract for their teachers.

“We are happy teachers are starting school on Wednesday and we are looking to resolve the contract in a fair and equitable manner,” said superintendent Michelle Price. “The school board is intent to establish an excellent contract with teachers and wants to see (this situation) resolved.”

Price said disagreement lies in creating a contact that is both financially sustainable and suitable to teachers’ requests.

“Where the board thinks they can go and where the association thinks we can go is where the conflict is,” Price said. “There is too much disparity between the two.”

School board members were notified of the results yesterday morning and said they are working to come to an agreement with MLEA.

“We hope over time can get closer together and find something both groups can come to that is fair,” Price said. “We also have to try to keep the district financially stable.”

Price said school board members have met concerning this issue.

“We have been meeting regularly to take a look at what else we can do and look at where it is fiscally responsible to go,” Price said. “We are confident we can reach a settlement with teachers soon.”

Price expressed appreciation for district teachers.

“The teachers are who makes Moses Lake School District a great place,” Price said. “ We have an amazing dedicated staff that do great things with children and work very hard to get great results with kids. We are proud of our teachers and the work they do.”