MARYSVILLE – Local teachers have been sacrificing money for years — first because of the poor economy and now because they want the Marysville School District to pass a bond to fix the many schools in disrepair.
So says Randy Davis, Marysville Education Association president.
The district’s school board ratified the contract with the teachers Sept. 2. It calls for a 1.5 percent raise this year, a 2 percent raise next year and a 3 percent raise in 2016-17. A first-year teacher would make $44,793, with the highest amount a teacher could make being $86,907.
The board was glad to see a three-year contract. When the economy was down the contract negotiations were annual.
“This gives us some stability,” said Tom Albright, board president. “We’re not worried about the past. We’re all ready to move forward.”
Board member Chris Nation said the contract gives the district some “unity going on. It shows we have the same common goals — to educate students as best we can,” he said, adding the state finally stepped up with some funding.
Board member Bruce Larsen said, “This shows yelling and screaming is not the way to get things done.”
Superintendent Becky Berg credited Davis with helping keep negotiations cordial.
“It was spirited on both sides, but we listened to them, and they listened to us,” Berg said.
Berg said sometimes union negotiations can be negative.
“It’s an opportunity to destroy relationships, but we built relationships,” Berg said.
Board member Pete Lundberg said: “We are partners. We respect teachers. This is our acknowledgement of what you do for our kids every day. I’m really psyched for the kids this year to see all their new stuff.”
But Davis said Sept. 3 that more needs to be done. He said Marysville used to have the top salaries in the state.
“But we’ve slipped,” he said.
As a result, Davis said the district is losing good teachers.
“We think it helps to be near the top” to attract the best teachers, he said. As it is now, “It’s a drain, people leaving Marysville. We are more transient. They can hop on the freeway and get out quick.”
He said he knows teachers who live in Skagit County who used to drive here because of the good pay. Now, they have left and taken jobs in Mount Vernon because the pay differential isn’t big enough to warrant the commute.
“They are willing to take a little less, but they wouldn’t when we were heads and tails above the others,” Davis said. “The gap isn’t that big any more.”
He said being a teacher is still a “tough gig” and if salaries continue to not keep pace, it could lead to “less loyalty in both directions.”
Davis said the teachers union has been patient, accepting one-year contracts when the economy was bad. He said this new contract shows the teachers desire to have their schools updated.
“We need to pass a bond to update our schools,” Davis said. “Our schools are in disrepair, and there are some inequities. We want to help the district get there.”
He singled out Marysville Getchell High School and Grove Elementary at one end of the spectrum and schools like Marysville-Pilchuck High School and Sunnyside Elementary on the other.
Davis said the union supports Berg, who was new to the district last year. He said she is moving the district in a positive direction, with a productive work environment.
