As president of Washougal Association of Educators, I am writing to inform the general public of the lack of a contract between the WAE and the Washougal School District. Our last contract expired Aug. 31, and we have chosen to continue to work based on the needs of the patrons of the district. The education of their children comes first for us.
It is also time to inform the public that we have not been able to come to an agreement with the Washougal School District. While the district has been more than prudent in its management of public funds, the district has been sincerely lacking in its responsibilities to its staff. Educators statewide have been not been supported by the state Legislature; that is why there has been a Supreme Court ruling as well as contempt of court fines. Locally, several school districts have strongly supported their teachers; however, Washougal has not.
We are not yet advocating a strike for our union. Students don’t deserve such treatment, nor do the patrons of the district. We have, however, filed for mediation and will work through those steps in the hope that we can come to an agreement with the district on a new contract.
Further information is available on Facebook at “I Support Washougal Teachers.”
