Battle Ground Public Schools

UPDATE Sept. 12, 2018: Battle Ground Public Schools is cancelling classes on Friday, Sept. 14. Battle Ground Public Schools and the Battle Ground Education Association (BGEA) worked individually with the state mediator on Wednesday in Battle Ground, but have not yet reached an agreement. The bargaining teams will continue to bargain on Thursday with the support of the state mediator.

UPDATE Sept. 11, 2018: Battle Ground Public Schools is cancelling classes on Thursday, Sept. 13. Battle Ground Public Schools and the Battle Ground Education Association (BGEA) met in bargaining on Tuesday with the support of the state mediator at the headquarters of the Public Employment Relations Commission (PERC) in Olympia. The bargaining teams will continue to work individually on Wednesday with the state mediator from the Public Employees Relations Commission.

UPDATE Sept. 10, 2018: There will be no school on Wednesday, Sept. 12. Battle Ground Public Schools and the Battle Ground Education Association (BGEA) will continue to meet in bargaining on Tuesday with the support of the state mediator at the headquarters of the Public Employment Relations Commission in Olympia.

Sept. 9, 2018 

Dear families of Battle Ground Public Schools,

Battle Ground Public Schools is cancelling classes on Tuesday, Sept. 11. Battle Ground Public Schools and the Battle Ground Education Association (BGEA) met in mediated-bargaining that lasted nearly 12 hours on Sunday; however, an agreement has not yet been reached.

Battle Ground Public Schools has filed a request with the Public Employment Relations Commission for fact finding. This legal process allows the state agency to examine information where there is disagreement and provide a non-binding opinion that the district hopes will advance the bargaining process.

“The district has been unable to settle its dispute with the Battle Ground Education Association regarding resolution of the parties’ open contract,” the request states. “At this point, the district believes the parties are deadlocked on the fundamental issue of available resources for employee compensation” and the legislation implementing the McCleary decision.

Bargaining teams for Battle Ground Public Schools and the BGEA remain $4.7 million apart on funds for compensation, plus other issues. Battle Ground’s proposal would add $6.6 million or an increase of 11.6 percent for teacher compensation in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18. BGEA’s proposal would add $11.3 million or an increase of 19.6 percent for teacher compensation in 2018-19 compared to 2017-18.

More information about bargaining, including an FAQ, recent articles, and summaries of bargaining proposals is on the district website: www.battlegroundps.org/bargaining.

While schools are closed:

• Buses for Cascadia Tech Academy in Evergreen Public Schools will depart Battle Ground and Prairie high schools at 6:50 a.m. and will return by 11 a.m.
• High school athletics will continue as scheduled as the coaches are covered under a separate contract.
• Community education classes (including Tigerland Preschool) will continue as scheduled.
• Enrollment and registration is available online.
• School offices will be closed at primary, middle, and alternative schools.
• Battle Ground and Prairie high school main offices will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and ASB offices will be open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• 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.
• The district office will be open during regular business hours, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Preschool information:

• Special Services preschools will close with schools.
• Prairie Preschool will close with schools.
• Tigerland Preschools open Sept. 10 and 11 and will operate as scheduled.
• ESD 112 preschools (Southwest Washington Child Care Consortium) will continue as scheduled.
• EOCF preschools will continue as scheduled, Educational Opportunities for Children and Families.
• EOCF Head Start preschools open Sept. 10 and will operate as scheduled.
• ESD 112 ECEAP preschools (Early Childhood Education Assistance Program) open Sept. 10 and will operate as scheduled.

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

Battle Ground Public Schools