FRIDAY 4PM UPDATE: Still no contract between KSD & KEA

The following was released by the Kennewick School District Friday afternoon following a third day of state mediation on contract negotiations with the Kennewick Education Association:

Dear Kennewick families,

We want to update you on contract negotiations with the teachers union and how they will affect the start of school. It is our sincere hope to reach an agreement with our teachers as quickly as possible so we can start school on time, however we are working on contingency plans in the event of a delay and are committed to keeping our community informed about progress.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF NEGOTIATIONS?
-Bargaining has been in process for four months.
-An independent mediator from the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) was brought in this week to help facilitate the process. A mediator may be brought in in order to define issues, explore solutions, and reach mutual agreement between two parties.
-Kennewick School District (KSD) and Kennewick Education Association (KEA) have reached consensus on 40 tentative agreements since bargaining began in May.
-KSD and KEA have not yet reached an agreement on salary and several other outstanding contract issues.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW?
-Earlier this week, the KEA voted to strike on the first day of school if a contract agreement has not been reached by Tuesday, Aug. 27.
-Unless a tentative agreement is reached by Monday, Aug. 26 in time to inform our community, schools will be closed and staff/school activities will be postponed until an agreement is reached.
-We understand that this may cause difficulties for many of our families. We will be working with our partners at the YMCA to offer on-site childcare at designated elementary schools as an option for families.

CURRENT SALARY PROPOSAL INFORMATION
-KSD has offered an average 6.3% across-the-board salary increase for the 2019-20 school year. This includes a 2% state increase called the Implicit Price Deflator (IPD), a 4% district-funded increase, and a .39% medical pool disbursement. The average teacher would see a raise between 7.5 and 9% with pay step increases for experience and education. This offer gives teachers every dollar the state has designated for teachers and includes funds from our local levy and those funds previously allocated to other student programs.
-KEA is seeking an average salary increase of 10.51%, plus additional step increases for experience and education.

THE CHALLENGE KSD FACES
-While the intention of the Legislature’s education funding overhaul last year, dubbed the “McCleary Fix” had good intentions, the results have created complicated issues and inequities across the state. No two districts were impacted the same way, which has resulted in widespread confusion during bargaining, with neighboring districts receiving different amounts of state funding depending on a variety of complex factors.
-KSD receives $3,991 less state funding designated to teacher salaries per teacher each year than neighboring Richland School District.
-To provide the pay increase that KEA is seeking, KSD would need to make large budget cuts that could include:
o Reducing teaching and support positions (staff cuts)
o Eliminating curriculum adoptions
o Making cuts to programs

HOW CAN I STAY INFORMED?
-KSD is committed to communicating regularly with our community. We will post updates to our website at www.ksd.org, so that staff and families can easily stay informed.

We love our KSD teachers and we also must balance our budget and be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. Any salary increases we provide must be able to be sustained over time without negatively impacting students and damaging the long-term financial health of the district.

Sincerely,

Dave Bond, Superintendent
Kennewick School District