News Summary
Evergreen Public Schools remains closed as the strike by the Public School Employees union enters its second week, disrupting education for thousands of students. Negotiations continue, but no agreement has been reached. The district is managing operations while providing support like free meals and expanded child care options. The strike, which began recently, has led to challenges for families, prompting the school board to consider legal action against the union. Officials are focused on reaching a fair settlement while minimizing disruption for students.
Evergreen, Washington – School Closure Continues Amid Ongoing Classified Employees’ Strike
Evergreen Public Schools will remain closed on Monday as the strike by the Public School Employees (PSE) Large Group classified union enters its second week, disrupting education for thousands of students in the Vancouver-area district.
Class Cancellation and District Operations
The district announced that all school buildings will be closed for the day, with no classes in session. However, the Administrative Service Center will operate on regular hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., managing administrative functions despite the strike. The closure affects students attending elementary, middle, and high schools within district boundaries.
Negotiation Efforts and Picketing
Over the weekend, district officials conducted negotiations with union representatives, but no agreement was reached. The union continues to stage pickets at the district’s Office, located at 13413 N.E. LeRoy Haagen Memorial Drive in Vancouver, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. The union disputes the district’s statement that “the PSE team walked away from bargaining” and asserts that the district’s request to end negotiations followed their multiple proposals.
Union leaders have criticized the district, emphasizing their commitment to ongoing talks and asserting the strike is not against students, but for their benefit.
Recent Negotiation Developments
The district’s bargaining teams met on Friday and Saturday and are scheduled to meet again on Monday morning in hopes of reaching a settlement. The district has expressed a desire to find a fair and sustainable agreement, considering current budget conditions and financial constraints.
Support for Students During the Strike
As classes remain canceled, the district has implemented measures to support students and families:
- Free meals are available at two high schools:
- Heritage High School from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
- Mountain View High School from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
- Child care options have been expanded:
- Right at School will operate Family Care Camps at nine elementary schools, running from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.
- The Clark County Family YMCA is offering camps for district students from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Impact on Athletics and Transportation
While middle and high school athletics and activities will continue, the district will not provide transportation services for students to attend these events or activities during the strike. Families are advised to receive their schedules and location details directly from their respective schools.
Background of the Strike and District Response
The strike began on August 22, coinciding with the return of students for the new school year. This disruption has created significant challenges for parents in managing child care and meal arrangements. In response, the Evergreen Public Schools Board of Directors voted unanimously on Friday to pursue legal action against the striking workers, declaring the strike unlawful. The union rejected the district’s “final offer” in a vote taken on Thursday, prior to negotiations resuming, which contributed to the ongoing disagreement.
As the situation develops, district officials remain focused on reaching an agreement that addresses the demands of the classified employees while ensuring minimal disruption to students’ education and daily routines.
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Additional Resources
- KPTV: Evergreen Public Schools No Class Announcement
- KGW: Evergreen Public Schools Classes Canceled
- Washington State Standard: Strike Delays Start of Classes
- Seattle Times: Evergreen Public Schools Strike Continues
- KOIN: Class Canceled for Evergreen Public Schools
- Wikipedia: Teacher Strike
- Google Search: Evergreen Public Schools Strike
- Google Scholar: Evergreen Public Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Teacher Union Strike
- Google News: Evergreen Public Schools
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