Yelm Community Schools (YCS) will announce in the morning Sunday, Sept. 1, whether school will begin as scheduled on Tuesday or will be delayed as the district continues to work toward a new collective bargaining agreement with the Yelm Education Association (YEA).
The district made an offer to the union at 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30, and at 8 p.m., both teams agreed to recess negotiations, according to YCS Communications Director Teri Melone in a statement released Saturday. The union and district met again on Saturday, and the YEA team shared its counter offer at 4:30 p.m. According to Melone, issues such as salary, optional days and working conditions are still being discussed.
Members of the Yelm Education Association (YEA) overwhelmingly voted Tuesday, Aug. 27 to approve a strike if no ratified tentative agreement with YCS is reached. YEA leadership has negotiated with the district since June as the district’s contract with the union is set to expire Saturday.
If school is indeed delayed, students will still receive 180 days of education, as potential missed days due to a strike would be made up at a later date.
“Timing of the negotiations has an impact on the decision to start school on time. A vote of the YEA membership is required to accept any contract that is tentatively agreed upon by union leadership, and 24-hours notice must be given to the membership to hold a vote,” Melone wrote. “We apologize for the uncertainty this creates for our families; but if there is a chance to start on time, we will wait on a decision. We value all our staff and the impact they have on our students and appreciate your support in this process as we continue good-faith negotiations.”
YEA officials disputed the district's claim that 24 hours must be given to members in order to hold a vote. In a Facebook post, the union said YCS misunderstood the YEA bylaws and distributed incorrect information.
"YEA does not have a 24-hour notice to membership before we hold a meeting. Contrary to incorrect information the district sent to families tonight, our YEA bargaining team is still at the table and willing to do what is necessary and productive in hopes of finding a tentative agreement by Sunday evening," YEA wrote. "If the district is using their misunderstanding of our bylaws to excuse themselves at the table then the district team needs to go back to school."
If a tentative agreement is reached, an electronic copy of the proposed changes would be made available for members the day before the union's general membership meeting and hard copies would be available at the meeting, according to YEA officials.
The district’s proposals, according to YEA officials earlier this week, include cutting daily planning time for elementary teachers, eliminating overload payments, refusing to put any limits on special education and counseling caseloads, eliminating counselor positions, refusing to pass through state-funded salary increases, and refusing to ensure emergency call buttons are in every classroom.
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