PORT ANGELES – The Port Angeles School District enters into another round of negotiations with the para educator’s union Tuesday to try and come to an agreement on wage increases and avoid a strike, which the paras have authorized to begin on Thursday.
School Superintendent Marty Brewer has brought in a state mediator to help with negotiations, which are scheduled to go into tomorrow if necessary.
But even before those negotiations were underway today, the School District announced a Special School Board Meeting to begin at 2:00pm Wednesday, with an Executive Session immediately following. The agenda includes five resolutions that it says the Board of Directors will take action on. They include:
- Suspension of all Policies, Rules, and/or Regulations
- Limit Access to Public School Grounds
- Legal Steps to Terminate Strike
- Suspend Leave Policies During Strike
- Authorization of Superintendent to Close School
Para educators are asking for a larger share of the funds doled out as a result of the State Supreme Court’s McCleary Decision. Union members are asking for a 22% wage increase, and the District’s latest offer was 3.5%.
(Please see our related stories published November 7 and 8.)