MEAD, Wash. — Students in Mead are set to return to school on Tuesday now that the Mead School District has reached a tentative agreement with the teachers’ union.
On Sunday evening, Mead School District notified staff and families that it had reached a tentative agreement with the Mead Education Association.
MEA and the district have been in negotiations for months, prompting the union to authorize a strike if an agreement was not reached by midnight on August 31.
The association said some of the major negotiation points were the district’s policy on disciplining students and growing class sizes.
“Mead EA members are grateful to start the school year on time with their students instead of walking a picket line. After advocating for additional support to ensure safe and inclusive classrooms for Mead students, the MEA bargaining team and the district were able to collaborate on an agreement that puts students and teachers first,” said MEA in a release on Sunday night.
In a statement from the district, Superintendent Travis Hanson described the bargaining process as “complex and difficult.”
“The first day of school is as meaningful as it is fun – a day that brings with it a sense of anticipation and the promise of growth and opportunity. We know the uncertainty of the last couple of days has been stressful for many, and we’re thankful to have avoided a delayed start to the school year,” he said. “I want to share my sincere appreciation for the negotiation teams whose diligent efforts led to this agreement.”
You can read the full statements from the Mead School District and the Mead Education Association below.
Mead School District Statement:
Today, our district and the Mead Education Association (MEA) tentatively agreed on a new, two-year contract. We are excited to welcome back students for the first day of school as scheduled on Sept. 2.The first day of school is as meaningful as it is fun—a day that brings with it a sense of anticipation and the promise of growth and opportunity. We know the uncertainty of the last couple of days has been stressful for many, and we’re thankful to have avoided a delayed start to the school year.The collective bargaining process is complex and difficult, and I want to share my sincere appreciation for the negotiation teams whose diligent efforts led to this agreement.We are deeply grateful for your continued support, trust, and partnership. We wish your family a strong and positive start to the new school year. We look forward to seeing your kids on Tuesday!
Mead Education Association Statement:
After days of focused bargaining, the Mead Education Association and Mead School District reached a tentative agreement late in the evening on Aug. 31. MEA members have not yet ratified the agreement but plans for a strike have been halted so members can meet and consider the tentative agreement for ratification.Mead EA members are grateful to start the school year on time with their students instead of walking a picket line. After advocating for additional support to ensure safe and inclusive classrooms for Mead students, the MEA bargaining team and the district team were able to collaborate on an agreement that puts students and teachers first.“It’s been a difficult few weeks,” said Mead EA President Toby Doolittle. “We are glad we could come together in the end with the school district to truly prioritize the safety of and necessary supports for Mead teachers and students.”The Mead EA bargaining team believes the agreement represents their priorities and are confident in bringing the agreement to members. They recognize the effort of both bargaining teams to come to a mutually beneficial agreement that honors the expertise of Mead teachers and prioritizes supporting students.According to Doolittle, the agreement came together from productive dialogue and engagement between the parties. “None of us wanted to walk the strike line. We want to be where our hearts are, in our classrooms with our students. This agreement allows us to do that.”According to Doolittle, Mead EA maintained clear priorities throughout this bargain. “We stayed focused throughout negotiations MEA members need real supports in our classrooms to address changing student needs and ensure our schools are safe for students and staff,” Said Doolittle. “Our solidarity around this singular focus led to this agreement. We are grateful for the support of the Mead community, the tireless work of our bargaining team and for MEA members who showed up again and again.”School will start as planned on Tuesday, Sept. 2. Mead EA members will meet in the days ahead to consider and review the tentative agreement.Mead Education Association is made up of approximately 675 educators in the Mead School District. Mead EA is affiliated with the statewide Washington Education Association and the National Education Association, who represent P-12 teachers, support staff and higher-education employees.
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