On Thursday, the KEA bargaining team met with a mediator at 1:00 p.m. at Kent Phoenix Academy. Through the mediator, the KSD notified our team that they needed to leave at 5:30; but would reconvene after dinner. KEA met at the District office ready to go at 8:30. Instead, KEA was asked to return on Sunday afternoon to continue negotiations. The plan was to bargain until 1:00am, and KEA came prepared. The KSD team decided to wait another two days.
A little progress was made, but not enough to meet the expectations of our KEA members, nor the KEA leadership team. As I am writing this, 80 building leaders are being trained at the KEA office in preparation for Thursday if there is a strike. KEA leaders and members are prepared for all scenarios. These people will be communicating with you on Monday and Tuesday after school so that there is no confusion.
The school board is reconvening this evening, Friday, August 24 at 6:00 p.m. to continue the public hearing on the 2018-2019 budget. The purpose is to potentially reconsider the approval of the budget. If you
are able to
attend, please be there. The presence of community members, educators and paraeduca
t
ors was enough to tip some of the board members to consider what a living wage would mean to KSD employees.
Sorry for the short notice; I'm sure that KSD is counting on the short notice to keep our voices from being heard.
The KEA
bargaining team's
first priority
to is reach a settlement. We have been willing to bargain well into the midnight hours to make this happen. I will be communicating with you Monday morning about any progress that the
bargaining
team has made.
On Monday, August
27, 2018, plan on attendin
g the General Membership Meeting. At that meeting, we will either be r
atifying an agreement or preparing for next steps.
General Membership Meeting
Kent-Meridian High School Gym- 1002
Thank you for your ongoing support and activism for students and staff!
