Sept. 4, 2018 Alert icon

Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,

Battle Ground Public Schools and the Battle Ground Education Association (BGEA) continued bargaining for 12 hours on the Labor Day holiday on Monday with the state-appointed mediator. While some progress was made, the groups have not yet reached an agreement. There will be no school on Wednesday, Sept. 5, as Battle Ground’s teachers voted for a work stoppage if an agreement is not in place.

Battle Ground Public Schools is committed to bargaining and will meet again today (Sept. 4) with BGEA in mediation. The district presented an updated multi-year offer that would give teachers an average salary increase of 10 percent in 2018-19, and a total average increase of 15.7 percent over two years. BGEA countered with a proposed 22.6 percent increase to teacher compensation for 2018-19.

This district proposal includes the following salary levels for total teacher compensation:

2018-19 (Excluding retirement and benefits)

  • Starting:  $47,035
  • Top of Salary Schedule (16 years):  $90,409
  • Average total compensation for teachers: $73,338

2019-20 (Excluding retirement and benefits)

  • Starting:  $48,234
  • Top of Salary Schedule (16 years):  $92,714
  • Average total compensation for teachers: $77,155

In addition to allocating all of the McCleary funding dedicated to teachers to teachers’ salaries, the district proposal also requires additional funding from the local levy. This same local levy is being reduced by about half over the next two years. More information is on the district’s website: www.battlegroundps.org/bargaining.

While schools are closed:

  • High school athletics will continue as scheduled with practices and games/meets/matches as the coaches are covered under a separate contract.
  • Community education classes will continue as scheduled.
  • Enrollment and registration is available online.
  • School offices will be open Tuesday through Friday, Sept. 4-7.
  • Lunch will be served to all children ages 1 to 18 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Kiwanis Park, 422 SW 2nd Ave. in Battle Ground. This is an extension of the summer meal program supported through a USDA grant.
  • Students will still receive 180 days of instruction, which would begin once the work stoppage is over. The school year calendar will shift accordingly (i.e., the final day of the 2018-19 school year will be later in the summer—much like snow days are added to the end of the school calendar) and dates for graduation might need to be adjusted.
  • Kindergarten parent-teacher conferences scheduled on closure days are postponed.
  • Special Services preschools will close with schools.
  • Prairie Preschool will close with schools.
  • ESD 112 preschools (Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium) will continue as scheduled.
  • EOCF preschools will continue as scheduled, Educational Opportunities for Children and Families.

Thank you for your patience during this time. We will continue to provide updates as they occur.

Battle Ground Public Schools

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