Aberdeen School District reaches tentative contract agreement with teachers union

September 6, 2018 10:21 am
(Courtesy Michelle Reed) Teachers and community members crowd the sidewalk next to the Aberdeen School District offices on Wednesday prior to a bargaining session. The teachers union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the school district at 1:40 a.m. on Thursday.
(Courtesy Michelle Reed) Teachers and community members crowd the sidewalk next to the Aberdeen School District offices on Wednesday prior to a bargaining session. The teachers union reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the school district at 1:40 a.m. on Thursday.

The Aberdeen School District reached a tentative agreement on a contract with its teacher union late Wednesday night at their bargaining session.

According to a statement on the district’s website, the Aberdeen Education Association and the district reached a “mediated, tentative agreement on a contract at 1:40 a.m.” on Thursday, after a meeting that started on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The teacher union’s bargaining team has told the district that the tentative agreement will be presented to its membership after school today, Sept. 6.

Details of the proposal will be made available after it has been ratified by teachers, according to the statement.

“We are pleased to have reached this agreement without disruption to our families, staff and students,” Superintendent Alicia Henderson said. “We all want the best education possible for our students.”

A large crowd of teachers, other union members, students, and other community members rallied outside the district offices on Wednesday in support of teachers prior to the bargain session. Many there held signs that read, “Fair Contract Now!” Some driving by honked their horns as they went past the crowd of red union shirts.