Due to the delayed first day of school, the following changes are in effect for the 2018-19 school year:

• Friday, Jan. 25, 2019—schools will be in session all day

• Wednesday, June 12 through Friday, June 14, 2019—schools will be in session all day

• Monday, June 17, 2019—schools will be in session but will release students two hours early

• Tuesday, June 18, 2019—last day of school; schools will be in session but will release students two hours early

The make-up dates, set with input from Vancouver Education Association, use the reserved dates scheduled for potential school closures due to adverse weather. If schools are closed due to weather, the school calendar will be adjusted.

This year, all schools also will release students 40 minutes early every Monday unless the day falls on a holiday or during school break (there will be no 40-minute early release days in June). The first early-release day will be Sept. 10. The increased number of early release days provides more time for VPS teachers to engage in professional learning and collaboration to improve student achievement results.

The public is invited to a ceremonial groundbreaking event to kick off construction of the new Vancouver iTech Preparatory. The event is Friday, Sept. 7, 11 to 11:30 a.m., at the Washington State University Vancouver campus.  

The ceremony will include remarks by WSU Vancouver Chancellor Mel Netzhammer, VPS Superintendent Steve Webb and VPS Board President Rosemary Fryer. Several students will participate in the ceremony.

The groundbreaking will be held at the future site of the school at NE 50th Avenue and NE 159th Street. Guests should:
• Consider carpooling to the event as parking is limited.
• Park only in the gray 1 parking lot; parking is free from 10 a.m. to noon only.
• Shuttles will transport you from gray 1 parking lot to the groundbreaking site.
• The groundbreaking site has uneven ground; please wear appropriate footwear.

Vancouver iTech Preparatory, a STEM magnet school for grades six through 12, opened in 2012 in two locations approximately 10 miles apart. Middle school students attend classes at the Jim Parsley Community Center and the high school program is located in the Clark College building at WSU Vancouver.

The new school is scheduled to open to high school students in January 2020. Middle school students will move into the campus for the start of school in fall 2020.

Construction contracts are subject to school board approval and funded by a bond measure approved by voters in February 2017.

School for Vancouver Public Schools' nearly 24,000 students will start Wednesday, Sept. 5, after being delayed by a teachers’ union work stoppage.

The start of school follows a vote by district teachers, counselors and other education professionals to ratify a new contract this morning at Skyview High School. Vancouver Education Association reports that the vote by 1,517 members was 92.4 percent in favor of the contract.

“This contract with VEA achieves the district’s goal of providing fair and competitive compensation for our professional educators,” said Superintendent Steve Webb. “In the second and third years of the contract, however, we anticipate the need for significant belt-tightening measures as our ability to generate local levy revenue is reduced and capped as a result of the legislature’s response to the McCleary court mandate.

“VPS will continue to advocate for legislative changes to E2SSB 6362 to ensure more equitable funding for southwest Washington students,” said Webb.

The new contract with VEA includes 31 early release days for the school year. All schools are scheduled to release 40 minutes early on Mondays unless the days fall on holidays or during school breaks. The first early-release day will be Sept. 10.

The increased number of early release days provides more time for VPS teachers to engage in professional learning and collaboration to improve student achievement results.

“We are delighted that our students will be back in school tomorrow,” said Webb. “We all share a common goal to give our students the best education possible.”

Make-up days for the work stoppage will be forthcoming.

Food pantry pop-up sites will be available to students and families the week of Sept. 4-7. The food pantries, coordinated by Share and VPS Family-Community Resource coordinators, will operate according to the schedule below. Available food items will include snacks, breakfast items, bread and bagels, lunch items, fresh produce and more.

Tuesday, Sept. 4th, 12 p.m.
Green Tree Apartments, 6405 NE Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver, WA 98665

Wednesday, Sept. 5th, 10:30 a.m.
Partners in Careers, 3210 NE 52nd St., Vancouver, WA 98663

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 12:00 p.m.
Boys and Girls Club OK Clubhouse, 4100 Plomondon St., Vancouver WA 98661

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1:30 p.m.
Springfield Meadows Apartment Complex, 4317 Northeast 66th Ave., Vancouver 98661

Wednesday, Sept. 5, 3 p.m.
Felida Bible Church, 3027 NW 119th St., Vancouver, WA 98685

Thursday, Sept. 6, 11 a.m.
The Ridge Apartments, 6208 NE 17th Ave., Vancouver, WA 98665

Friday, Sept. 7, 9:30 a.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 309 West 39th St. Vancouver WA 98660

Friday, Sept. 7, 11:30 a.m.
The Gathering Place, 2500 NE 78th St., Vancouver, WA 98665

Friday, Sept. 7, 1:30 p.m.
Boys and Girls Club OK Clubhouse, 4100 Plomondon St., Vancouver WA 98661

Friday, Sept. 7, 3:30 p.m.
Marshall Center Park, 1069 East McLoughlin Blvd., Vancouver WA 98660

Special thanks to our generous partners:
Share, First Presbyterian Church, The Gathering Place, Franz Bakery, Seize the Bagel, Chuck’s Produce, Boys and Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington, Vancouver Parks and Recreation, Partners in Careers, Springfield Meadows Apartment Complex, Green Tree Apartments, the Ridge Apartments, Felida Bible Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and Clark County Food Bank.

Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association today reached a tentative agreement on a new contract for teachers, counselors and other education professionals in the district.

Schools are expected to open on Wednesday, Sept. 5., pending a VEA ratification vote on Sept 4.

“Unlike other districts that only had to address teacher salaries, VEA and VPS had to negotiate an entire contract,” said VPS Superintendent Steve Webb. “I am grateful to the bargaining teams for working very hard together to come to an agreement. And, I especially want to thank our teachers and staff, parents and community members for their patience and understanding as we completed this difficult process.

“Vancouver Public Schools is so fortunate to have a talented and dedicated teacher workforce with educators who are passionate about preparing young people for their future. We look forward to beginning the school year and continuing to serve our 24,000 students and their families.”

Details of the tentative agreement will be released after VEA ratification. School calendar adjustments also will be forthcoming.

Key points:

• VEA members would receive a total compensation increase of 13.6 percent from 2017-18 to 2018-19.
• Over three years, VEA members would receive a total compensation increase of 18.1 percent.
• VPS would need to address a $9.1 million shortfall over three years to pay for the current proposal, requiring budget cutting and spending from the district’s ending fund balance.
• The median salary for teachers in VPS grew from $61,046 to $80,324 between 2011-12 and 2016-17, an increase of $19,278 or 32 percent in five years.
• VPS also must negotiate contracts with the Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals this year and Service Employees International Union next year.

Early this morning, after negotiating for approximately 22 consecutive hours, Vancouver Public Schools presented a new salary proposal to the Vancouver Education Association bargaining team in response to VEA’s request to focus compensation improvements in the first year of the contract.

VPS and VEA continue to negotiate with support of a state mediator to resolve the last remaining issue on the table, which is educator salaries. State mediated negotiations are scheduled over the Labor Day weekend with hopes of reaching agreement in time for teachers and students to return to school on Tuesday, September 4, according to district officials.

VEA members would receive a total compensation increase of 13.6 percent from 2017-18 to 2018-19. Over the next three years, VEA members would receive a total compensation increase of 18.1 percent. Teachers at the top of the salary schedule could earn more than $95,000 this school year.  See details here.

According to the Washington State Legislative Evaluation and Accountability Program Committee, using data provided by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the median total teacher salary in VPS increased from $61,046 to $80,324 between 2011-12 and 2016-17 (most current audited statewide data available), an increase of $19,278 or 32% in five years. The state median change during that same period was $15,948, or 24%. See table for more details.

VPS gains $52.4 million in net new discretionary McCleary funding over the next three years. Today’s proposal presented to VEA would cost the district $61.5 million over the next three years, a $3.8 million increase from the district’s last publicly released proposal. Budget-cutting and further spending of the district’s financial reserve, or ending fund balance, would be necessary to pay for the $9.1 million shortfall.

Every single net new discretionary McCleary dollar, and more, would be invested into teacher compensation. Non-discretionary McCleary money is designated for specific purposes or pass-through funds.

VPS also must conclude bargaining with the Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals (secretaries, paraprofessionals, clerks) this year.  Next year, VPS must negotiate a new contract with Service Employees International Union (bus drivers, mechanics, trades, maintenance, grounds, custodian, nutrition services, security.)

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.

VPS and VEA bargaining teams will reconvene with the state mediator on Sunday.

Visit the district website (vansd.org/contract-negotiations/) for additional information and regular updates.

The "Open Letter to the Community" sent to you earlier today contained an error in a date range. The corrected sentence reads as follows:

"VEA members would receive a salary increase of nine percent on average from 2017-18 to 2018-19."

The correction has been made on the district website and in the letter below. We apologize for the error.

Open Letter to the Community

August 30, 2018

Dear VPS Community Members,

We recognize that a great deal of concern and confusion exists about the current bargaining situation with our teachers. We want to help you understand the challenging landscape that is causing difficulties in agreeing to a contract with the Vancouver Education Association.

Some are misstating that VPS wants to hold back net new discretionary McCleary funds provided by the state. I want to be clear: In VPS’ most recent publicly announced proposal, every single net new discretionary McCleary dollar, and more, would be invested into teacher compensation.

The state funding changes are complex, and the legislature is putting us in a no-win position of negotiating fair and competitive teacher salaries while significantly reducing the amount of revenue we can collect to help pay for employee compensation.

VPS gains more state revenue beginning this year, but we lose a portion of local revenue next year. Our net new McCleary discretionary funding gain is $24.4 million in 2018-19, then it drops to $14 million in 2019-20 and beyond.

In other words, VPS gains $52.4 million in net new discretionary McCleary funding over the next three years. Our most recent publicly announced proposal to Vancouver Education Association would cost the district $57.7 million over the next three years. Budget-cutting and further spending of our financial reserve, or ending fund balance, would be necessary to pay for the $5.3 million shortfall.

VEA members would receive a salary increase of nine percent on average from 2017-18 to 2018-19. Over the next three years, starting teachers would receive a 14.8 percent raise, and our most experienced teachers would receive 18.4 percent. Teachers at the top of the salary schedule would earn nearly $100,000 per year. Please see the attached infographic.

The VEA bargaining team chose not to accept our proposal and instead decided to conduct a strike.

We are committed to bargaining in good faith with VEA every day and night to reach a fair settlement and get our 24,000 students into school as quickly as possible. We encourage you to visit our website (vansd.org/contract-negotiations/) for additional information and regular updates.

As Vancouver’s superintendent for the past 10 years, I know this is a community that loves its children and a district that appreciates the excellence of its teachers. When the state settled the McCleary lawsuit, I had hoped that we would be celebrating the improved compensation of our talented teachers with the start of this school year. Instead, the state funding model has caused division, not only in VPS but also across our county and our state.

I hope that the information in this letter helps to clarify our commitment to give teachers a fair offer within our means to sustain those raises in a fiscally responsible manner.

Sincerely,

Steven T. Webb, Ed.D.
Superintendent

contract negotiations

Dear VPS community members,

We recognize that a great deal of concern and confusion exists about the current bargaining situation with our teachers. We want to help you understand the challenging landscape that is causing difficulties in agreeing to a contract with the Vancouver Education Association.

Some are misstating that VPS wants to hold back net new discretionary McCleary funds provided by the state. I want to be clear: In VPS’ most recent publicly announced proposal, every single net new discretionary McCleary dollar, and more, would be invested into teacher compensation.

The state funding changes are complex, and the legislature is putting us in a no-win position of negotiating fair and competitive teacher salaries while significantly reducing the amount of revenue we can collect to help pay for employee compensation.

VPS gains more state revenue beginning this year, but we lose a portion of local revenue next year. Our net new McCleary discretionary funding gain is $24.4 million in 2018-19, then it drops to $14 million in 2019-20 and beyond.

In other words, VPS gains $52.4 million in net new discretionary McCleary funding over the next three years. Our most recent publicly announced proposal to Vancouver Education Association would cost the district $57.7 million over the next three years. Budget-cutting and further spending of our financial reserve, or ending fund balance, would be necessary to pay for the $5.3 million shortfall.

VEA members would receive a salary increase of nine percent on average from 2018-19 to 2019-20. Over the next three years, starting teachers would receive a 14.8 percent raise, and our most experienced teachers would receive 18.4 percent. Teachers at the top of the salary schedule would earn nearly $100,000 per year. Please see the attached infographic.

The VEA bargaining team chose not to accept our proposal and instead decided to conduct a strike.

We are committed to bargaining in good faith with VEA every day and night to reach a fair settlement and get our 24,000 students into school as quickly as possible. We encourage you to visit our website for additional information and regular updates.

As Vancouver’s superintendent for the past 10 years, I know this is a community that loves its children and a district that appreciates the excellence of its teachers. When the state settled the McCleary lawsuit, I had hoped that we would be celebrating the improved compensation of our talented teachers with the start of this school year. Instead, the state funding model has caused division, not only in VPS but also across our county and our state.

I hope that the information in this letter helps to clarify our commitment to give teachers a fair offer within our means to sustain those raises in a fiscally responsible manner.

Sincerely,

Steven T. Webb, Ed.D.

Superintendent

The following statements by the Vancouver Public Schools board president and superintendent were made at a special meeting of the board of directors on Tuesday, August 28.

From School Board President Rosemary Fryer

The board continues to be engaged and regularly updated on the status of bargaining with Vancouver Education Association.

Unlike other districts that only had to address salary, VEA and VPS had to negotiate an entire contract. Both teams have bargained in good faith. The tone has been positive and collaborative.

In fact, our teams continued to bargain today with a state mediator. Both teams have worked very long hours in recent days and nights. We are grateful for their efforts.

We continue to make our team available 24/7 to expedite a quick resolution so that our students can begin the school year.

Positive progress has been made to reach a fair and competitive contract to attract and retain our valued educators.

We also must do so in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. We have the same set of commitments to all of our employees.

Unfortunately, the complex and inequitable funding system adopted by the legislature in response to the McCleary lawsuit is making the process of bargaining teacher contracts exceptionally difficult for districts throughout the state.

The failure of elected leaders in Olympia to avoid pitting unions and districts against each other has been divisive and disruptive to many communities throughout the state.

These divisions are harmful to our teachers and staff. They are harmful to our students and families. And they are harmful to our relationships with the broader community.

History has shown, time and time again, when a strike occurs, nobody wins.

From Superintendent Steve Webb

This special meeting is convened for two reasons: to conduct the regular business of the board of directors, including action items related to personnel, purchasing, and school construction related matters.

This meeting also is convened to consider a set of emergency resolutions in response to a VEA strike. These are contingency resolutions and will be implemented judiciously, depending upon the length of a potential work stoppage, the impact on educational programs, and in consideration of governing laws and requirements.

For example, the district does not plan to file a court injunction immediately. We do not plan to lock our schools, making them inaccessible to the public. We do not plan to suspend the health benefits of VEA members.

Resolution 809 pertains to the suspension of pay and health benefit premium payments. It says if a strike/work stoppage occurs and employees do not return to work by September 17, 2018, the district will suspend health premium payments for October coverage.

Friends, we don’t have a choice in this matter. State law prohibits the gift of public funds. Every VPS employee, including me, must be at work 50% of the available work days in a month, including use of approved leave, to receive their monthly premium payment.

We have confidence in the bargaining and mediation process. We're eager to roll up our sleeves and continue to bargain in good faith with VEA to reach a fair settlement that meets our mutual interests and gets our students in school as quickly as possible.

Pursuant to Revised Code of Washington Chapter 42-30, you are hereby notified that members of the Board of Directors of Vancouver School District No. 37, Clark County, Washington, have CANCELED their regular meeting on Aug. 28 at 5:15 p.m. at the Bates Center, 2921 Falk Road.

After another day of teacher contract negotiations, Vancouver Education Association informed Vancouver Public Schools of VEA’s decision to conduct a strike/work stoppage tomorrow, Aug. 29, on the first scheduled day of school. This afternoon, the district began to inform employees and families that the opening of schools will be delayed until the strike ends.

Although Vancouver schools will not operate tomorrow, back-to-school events and athletics will continue as planned. School offices will be accessible to families who need to register their children or take care of other school-related business. Teachers will not be locked out of the school buildings.

Through several months of positive and constructive negotiations, VPS and VEA attempted to reach settlement on a new contract for teachers. At the bargaining table, VPS and VEA have made progress in negotiating class size, professional development, and planning time for professional learning communities. The bargaining teams have not yet reached agreement on salary. The Washington Education Association, or state teachers’ union, is encouraging its local bargaining groups to negotiate wage increases of 15 percent or more. A one-percent increase in teacher salaries costs VPS approximately $1.4 million.

“Unfortunately, the complex and inequitable funding system adopted by the legislature in response to the McCleary lawsuit is making the process of bargaining teacher contracts exceptionally difficult for districts throughout the state,” said Superintendent Steve Webb. “The failure of elected leaders in Olympia to avoid pitting unions and districts against each other has been divisive and disruptive to many communities,” Webb said.

“We are meeting our obligation to bargain in good faith,” said Webb. “We’re committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages, but we must do so in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. We take very seriously our role as careful stewards of the public’s resources, and a vital part of our job is to ensure that the district doesn’t overspend its budget this school year and in future years.”

Daily updates on the status of bargaining and school closure are available on the district website — www.vansd.org.

Bargaining teams for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association met again on Monday, Aug. 27, 2018. Today, VPS and VEA worked with a state mediator for 13 hours to try to reach an agreement on a new contract for teachers’ union members.

To date, progress has been made on class size, professional development and planning time for professional learning communities. Salary is the most significant remaining item. VPS and VEA are scheduled to negotiate again on Tuesday, August 28. Both teams continue to bargain in good faith with the mutual goal of starting school on time.

The McCleary “fix” legislated by ESSSB 6362 in 2018 is dividing and disrupting many communities by pitting teachers’ unions and districts against one another as they navigate a complex and inequitable funding system. On Sunday, a Seattle Times editorial summed up the financial challenge for districts in Clark County and throughout Washington:

"Without a doubt, teachers across the state can expect raises this year. But not all of the money approved by the Legislature can go directly toward increasing teachers’ take-home pay. Instead, some of the new state dollars will be needed to offset mandatory reductions in local school district property taxes, which are set to take effect next year."

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. Please continue to check the contract negotiations webpage daily for updates.

VPS families are encouraged to develop contingency plans in case a VEA strike/work stoppage delays the opening of school.

Bargaining teams for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association met on Saturday, Aug. 25, and Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018. Today, VPS and VEA worked with a state mediator for 14 hours to try to reach agreement on the remaining items to be bargained.

Progress was made on class size and professional development. The teams have not yet agreed on salary and planning time for professional learning communities. At approximately 10:45 p.m., VEA leaders officially notified VPS of their intent to conduct a strike/work stoppage on Aug. 29, the first day of school, unless an agreement is reached.

VPS and VEA are scheduled to negotiate again on Monday, August 27. Both teams continue to bargain in good faith with the mutual goal of starting school on time.

The McCleary “fix” legislated by ESSSB 6362 in 2018 raises a host of challenges. The complex and inequitable funding system adopted by the legislature in response to the McCleary lawsuit is making the process of bargaining teacher contracts exceptionally difficult for districts throughout the state. The legislature’s solution is dividing and disrupting many communities.

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner. Please continue to check the contract negotiations webpage daily for updates.

VPS families are encouraged to develop contingency plans in case a VEA strike/work stoppage delays the opening of school.

Bargaining teams for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association met on Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018.   

Remaining items to be bargained include salary, professional development, planning time, and class size. Bargaining teams are scheduled to meet Aug. 24 and 27.

Additionally, VPS requested that VEA bargain over the weekend on August 25 and 26 if a settlement is not reached by the end of the day tomorrow. VEA did not respond to the request. 

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.

Please continue to check the contract negotiations webpage daily for updates.

VPS sent a letter to families regarding back-to-school events and the status of contract negotiations.

Bargaining teams for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association met on Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018.

Progress was made on the remaining items to be bargained, including salary, professional development, planning time and class size. 

Bargaining teams are scheduled to meet Aug. 23-24 and Aug. 27.

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.

Please continue to check the contract negotiations webpage daily for updates.

Bargaining teams for Vancouver Public Schools and Vancouver Education Association met on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Both teams presented new salary proposals.

VEA's proposal

VEA’s proposal represents a 16.2 percent improvement in the average total compensation in one year.

VEA’s proposal increases district costs by an estimated $23 million over the 2017-18 contract.

VPS' proposal

VPS’ proposal represents a 14.9 percent improvement in the average total compensation over two years and a 17.2 percent improvement over three years.

The top total salary for most experienced teachers increases by 16.5 percent over two years and 18.9 percent over three years. Teachers at the top of the proposed VPS schedule would earn nearly $100,000 by 2020-21.

VPS’ proposal would increase costs by an estimated $12 million in year one and $20 million in year two above the 2017-18 contract.

After backing out restricted funds and reduced levy and levy equalization funds, VPS will receive discretionary state revenue of approximately $24.4 million in 2018-19; $10.4 million of this amount is one-time money and will not be sustained. By 2019-20, VPS will receive discretionary state revenue of approximately $14 million as a result of the legislated levy swap.

To pay for the contract improvements in the district’s proposal, VPS would need to reprioritize resources in 2019-20 and beyond, including spending down the fund balance reserve by $6 million over three years.

Recent tentative agreements or publicly released salary proposals in the region are below.

*Requires 25 years of service to achieve.

**District still negotiating 2018-19 contract.

The VPS contract negotiations webpage has been updated to reflect the most recent proposals.

Bargaining teams are scheduled to meet Aug. 22-24 and Aug. 27.

The VPS board of directors and leadership team are committed to providing teachers and other district employees with fair and competitive wages in a fiscally responsible and sustainable manner.

Please continue to check the contract negotiations webpage daily for updates.