Moses Lake teachers vote to strike if contract not ratified

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Education Association, the teachers' union for educators in the Moses Lake School District, has voted to strike if they do not have a ratified contract by Nov. 28. 

“Our students are losing ground,” said Moses Lake EA President Heather Whittall in a Thursday evening press release. “For the second year in a row, teachers have lost prep time and our students are receiving less instructional time, while the District chooses to grow it’s savings account instead of prioritizing spending where students need it most, in their classrooms.”

The teachers say the district is hoarding funds as a reserve to hit a savings goal when the money should be spent to increase instructional hours and provide other resources to teachers and students. 

“We need a contract that preserves our professional development opportunities so we can continue to grow in our profession to the best we can be,” said Whittall. “The District wants us to go backward, but we must maintain a contract that keeps our great teachers here in our community and attracts new ones.”

The district has held firm in saying that reestablishing the district's financial reserves and ensuring fiscal responsibility is necessary. Superintendent Carol Lewis has repeatedly said the district has a plan after this spring's levy passage that will have it back on track at the end of the 2026-27 school year. 

Earlier this week, the district and MLEA agreed to enter into mediated negotiations.

This is a breaking story, and the Columbia Basin Herald will be reaching out to the district for comment.