Prosser to start school after teachers approve labor contract

All 130 members in attendance at the Prosser Education Association’s Monday meeting voted to ratify an agreement with the Prosser School District that was tentatively reached Friday night. The agreement means school will start as scheduled today.

“The teachers will be in school tomorrow,” said union spokeswoman Kandis West.

Details of the contract were not immediately released.

The agreement was reached after plans were announced Thursday to bring in state mediators.

The union was asking for more than $650,000 in extra pay, around double what the district had offered. It also wanted more than $50,000 in pay increases for extra duties, about 10 times what the district had proposed.

Agreement was reached by midweek on issues pertaining to optional and mandatory staff days and time for professional development. The district also had agreed to provide an additional $1,500 for special education teachers. Workday hours, calendar issues and some details regarding leave were worked out

This story was originally published September 7, 2015 at 11:02 PM with the headline "Prosser to start school after teachers approve labor contract."