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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Union approves contract with Spokane Public Schools including some early-release Fridays

Members of the Spokane Education Association voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to approve a new three-year contract with Spokane Public Schools.

The contract covers teachers, para-educators, custodians and other support staff. Just over 900 people cast ballots Tuesday and 91 percent of them voted to approve the contract, said union president Jenny Rose.

The contract includes raises for all employees but the size of the raise depends on the position, Rose said. Schools used to have a late start every Thursday for teacher collaboration, but that was taken away in the contract for the 2015-2016 school year. The collaboration time will return this fall as an early release on 12 Fridays during the school year.

Rose said negotiations went faster after last year’s lengthy negotiations nearly resulted in a strike.

“I think the district and the SEA were committed to doing this bargain right,” Rose said. “Both sides were really interested in listening to what the issues were.”

The school board is expected to vote on whether to approve the contract on Wednesday. The details of the contract have not yet been made public.