Kennewick teachers approve new contract with district

A tentative agreement between the Kennewick School District and its teachers union will reportedly provide the best assurances regarding salaries and class size limits, and pay for overloaded classrooms.

The district announced the deal late Friday, saying members of the Kennewick Education Association recently voted to ratify the three-year contract.

The contract must still be approved by the school board, which is expected to consider it at its Aug. 17 meeting.

“We believe that we have the best teachers in the region and we are delighted that we are able to compensate them in a way that reflects the outstanding job that they do for Kennewick students,” Superintendent Dave Bond said in a news release.

Calls to the district and union offices seeking comment were not immediately returned. However, the most recent post on the union’s Facebook page noted that members voted to ratify the contract during a Thursday meeting at Kamiakin High School.

“We've waited a long time for a meaningful raise,” wrote one commenter on the post. “So grateful to KEA for working so hard and to (the district) for stepping up when state legislature has refused to.”

Details of the tentative contract were not released. It addressed providing planning time to teachers equal to that provided in neighboring districts, one-time payments to help teachers with medical expenses, and longevity pay to teachers who continue working beyond their 16th anniversary in the district.

The agreement was hammered out during negotiations in April, May and June.

The district and union didn’t agree as quickly when they last were at the bargaining table. Teachers and their supporters held a rally in late August 2013 as their contract neared expiration, demanding the district better address workload, class size, evaluation and subcontracting.

A contract was eventually approved after teachers voted on it in early September 2013, several days after the prior one expired.

Kennewick’s quick contract resolution is a contrast numerous contentious teacher negotiations around the state last summer, including in Pasco and Prosser.

Pasco teachers went on strike for more than a week, delaying the start of school, before agreeing to a contract with their district.

Prosser teachers threatened to strike, but inked a deal with district administrators before following through.

This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 8:55 PM with the headline "Kennewick teachers approve new contract with district."