Teachers ratify new contract with Kent School District; classes start on Thursday

KENT, Wash. — The Kent teachers’ union confirmed on Wednesday night that members ratified their new contract with the Kent School District.

A tentative agreement on a new contract had been reached at 2:43 a.m. Teachers did not picket in front of schools on Wednesday.

Because the contract is ratified, classes will start on Thursday, Sept. 8, according to the Kent Education Association. Kindergarten students are scheduled to start on Tuesday, Sept. 13.

School for 25,000 students in the district was supposed to start on Aug. 25, but as negotiations on a new contract failed to result in an agreement, teachers instead began striking on that day.

After getting the news that an agreement had been reached, a KIRO 7 News crew met with KEA vice president Layla Jones outside the union offices Wednesday morning.

Jones said she had started on the bargaining team when the process began but was quickly pulled off to manage the strike action. She admitted that the situation was not good at the start of the negotiations.

“From the get-go, it was very contentious and very difficult to come to any kind of compromise with our district’s bargaining team. We started really late, which is concerning,” said Jones.

Despite the early concerns, Jones said she had full faith in the KEA bargaining team and welcomed their work to get a result on Wednesday morning.

“I’m feeling excited, I’m feeling hopeful, you know, just pivoting to getting ready for this general membership meeting, and just excited for what our bargaining team is going to bring us tonight,” Jones had said.

Union members gathered at 5 p.m. at Kent-Meridian High School to vote on the new agreement.

KEA is made up of 1,700 classroom teachers in the Kent School District.

KEA said bargaining with the district started in mid-July, and the biggest sticking points were not about salary.

Educators said their primary concerns were more counselors for students, manageable class sizes and wages that will help the district attract and retain teachers.

The Kent School District released a statement that read, in part:

“Kent School District cares deeply for our students, families, staff, and community. Now is the time to come together and continue our focus on students and our core values of equity, excellence, and community. KSD is focused on rebuilding relationships and trust. We remain committed to a fresh start, centered on our mission to educate students. We restate our commitment to direct our collective energies to what we value most — serving our students and their success.”

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