No school, Wednesday, September 7, 2022 

Kent School District and the Kent Education Association continue to bargain on Tuesday, September 6. We will send communications when a tentative agreement is reached.

We thank our community partners for supporting students and families during this difficult time. In partnership with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Kent School District is able to receive a waiver to feed children ages 0-18. This meal service is intended to provide healthy meals for KSD students until the start of the 2022-2023 school year.  

 Beginning Wednesday, September 7 - Free Meals for Children Ages 0-18

• Meals are grab and go
• Children do not have to be present for families to pick up meals
• Sites cannot accommodate large pick-up service

View the list of locations and times.

After a tentative agreement is reached, it will take at least one day for our schools to be ready to open.  We thank you for your patience as we work to get students back in school and begin the school year.

KSD Update: Friday, September 2, 2022

We will send communications to families and staff over the weekend to keep you updated. Please be prepared to make alternate arrangements for Tuesday, September 6, for potential continued school closure. Our focus will continue to be on students, and what is best for them is to be in the classroom learning. To that end, negotiations will continue over the weekend with the hope of reaching an agreement.  
 
We are working on an agreement that is fair, sustainable, and fiscally responsible to support our mission of successfully preparing all students for their futures.  
 
If schools remain closed, free meals will be served to school-age children beginning Wednesday, September 7.  More information and details of locations and times will be provided as soon as possible.  
 
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming our students and all staff back to school as soon as possible. 
 
Resources 
Community resources and local food bank information. 
Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions   

No school Friday, September 2, 2022 

We know the uncertainty of when school will start is a stressful situation for all, especially for our students. It is best for our students to be in school learning. 
 
Our bargaining teams are working hard to come to agreements with our labor partners. 
 
High school sports programs are continuing as scheduled with transportation provided for away games. All elementary and middle school athletics and activities are postponed until further notice.  
 
Washington State Fair Tickets Available 
 
Student and educator fair tickets are available at the Kent School District administration center located at 12033 SE 256th St. Kent, WA. High school offices are open and fair tickets are also available there. 
 
Resources 

Community resources and local food bank information 
Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions 

No school Thursday, September 1, 2022

Kent School District and the Kent Education Association (KEA) are bargaining every day. Our shared goal is to open schools and welcome our students.

We understand the difficulties this strike/work stoppage is causing for our families. Please find resources at Community resources and local food bank information and Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions

For more information, regular updates are posted on school and district websites.

No school, Wednesday, August 31, 2022

No school on Tuesday, August 30, 2022

At a special board meeting on Monday, August 29, the school board did not vote in favor of Resolution 1630. This resolution would have authorized the district to seek injunctive relief against the Kent Education Association (KEA).  

We know how important it is for students to return to school and families to have a consistent, reliable school schedule in place, to that end, KSD continues to negotiate with KEA.  

Updates will continue to be posted on school and district websites. 

All schools will remain closed Monday, August 29, 2022.

Kent School District is committed to welcoming our students back to school for the 2022-23 school year. As part of our commitment, KSD continued bargaining with KEA over the weekend.

High school sports programs are continuing as scheduled. All elementary and middle school athletics and activities will be postponed until further notice.

We are eager for students to return to school, and understand the burden placed on families if schools remain closed. We continue to bargain with the Kent Education Association (KEA). Updates will continue to be posted on school and district websites.

Resources

Community resources and local food bank information.

Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions   

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time and look forward to welcoming our students and staff back to school as soon as possible.

On Saturday, August 20, 2022, KSD proposed a first year 6.3% salary increase. This includes the full 5.5% state COLA, plus an additional increase of 0.8%. The district is also offering every KEA member a $1,000 stipend in addition to the base salary percent increase. 

• For 2022-23, KEA members on step one of the KEA salary schedule would earn $64,849.
• Beginning members with a master’s degree would earn $77,220.
• The final step of the salary schedule would be $124,647.   
• In 2022-23 of the KSD proposal, 75% of KEA members will make $77,220 or more.

Since the 2017-18 school year, KEA salaries have increased approximately 31%. 

In bargaining on Saturday, August 20, 2022, the district made an offer for three years:

Year	Compensation Offer
2022-23	6.3% (inclusive of 5.5% COLA) +$1,000 Flat Stipend
2023-24	Full COLA Increase + $1,500 Flat Stipend
2024-25	Full COLA Increase

KSD’s salary offer made on Saturday, August 20, matches the percentage increase and stipend package in the recent agreement with the Renton School District.

Additionally, the district’s most recent proposal includes substantive offers in the following areas:

1. Substitute (guest) teacher pay, recruitment, and training.
2. Additional paid professional development days for counselors, nurses, and behavior interventionists.
3. Special Education caseload supports.

Cost projections for each year of the proposed deal are as follows:

				Proposed Yr 1	Proposed Yr 2	Proposed Yr 3
Cost of Proposed Schedule/Scattergram				$     182,560,350	$   186,211,601	$     190,121,971
average salary				$          96,554.97	$        98,486.10	$        100,554.27
average daily rate				$               536.42	$             547.14	$               558.63
Est. Increase in Salary Sched. Cost				$       11,268,507	$       3,802,778	$         4,072,651
Est Increase in Supp. Fringe Cost				$         2,517,384	$          849,541	$            909,830
				$       13,785,891	$       4,652,318	$          4,982,481
Increase in Average salary				$                 5,722	$               1,931	$                 2,068

Because salary costs are cumulative, the costs compound over time. Here is the compounded, cumulative cost estimate:

			22-23	23-24	24-25	Total
Total Cumulative Cost		6.3%	$             13,785,891	$   14,061,609	$   14,356,902
		2.0%		$     4,652,318	$      4,750,017
		2.1%			$      4,982,481
			$             13,785,891	$   18,713,927	$   24,089,400	$        56,589,218
					Compounded Cumulative Percentage	10.7%
		Yr 1 Teacher Stipend of $1,000	$           1,890,740
		Yr 2 Teacher Stipend of $1,500		$   2,836,110
						$          62,450,512

In year one (2022-23) of the KSD proposed agreement, KEA salaries would be as follows:

• Beginning salary (BA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $64,849
• Beginning salary (MA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $77,220*
• Mid-Career salary (MA degree/10 Years of Experience): $95,241
• Maximum salary (MA +90 /25 Years of Experience): $124,647
• Projected Average Teacher Salary (Based on Current Experience Levels): $96,555

*Currently, about 75% of KEA members are at the MA degree/0 years of experience level or higher, for a 187-day contract.

In year two (2023-24) of the KSD proposed agreement, KEA salaries would be as follows:

• Beginning salary (BA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $66,146
• Beginning salary (MA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $78,764*
• Mid-Career salary (MA degree/10 Years of Experience): $97,146
• Maximum salary (MA +90 /25 Years of Experience): $127,140
• Projected Average Teacher Salary (Based on Current Experience Levels): $98,486

*Currently, about 75% of KEA members are at the MA degree/0 years of experience level or higher, for a 187-day contract.

In year three (2024-25) of the KSD proposed agreement, KEA salaries would be as follows:

• Beginning salary (BA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $67,535
• Beginning salary (MA degree/Zero Years of Experience): $80,418*
• Mid-Career salary (MA degree/10 Years of Experience): $99,186
• Maximum salary (MA +90 /25 Years of Experience): $129,810
• Projected Average Teacher Salary (Based on Current Experience Levels): $100,554

 *Currently, about 75% of KEA members are at the MA degree/0 years of experience level or higher, for a 187-day contract.

Kent School District is committed to welcoming our students back to school for the 2022-23 school year. As part of this commitment, we are providing updates to the community related to our bargaining process with the Kent Education Association (KEA).

On Saturday, August 20, 2022, KSD proposed a first year 6.3% salary increase. This includes the full 5.5% state COLA, plus an additional increase of 0.8%. The district is also offering every KEA member a $1,000 stipend in addition to the base salary percent increase. 

• For 2022-23, KEA members on step one of the KEA salary schedule would earn $64,849.
• Beginning members with a master’s degree would earn $77,220.
• The final step of the salary schedule would be $124,647.   
• In 2022-23 of the KSD proposal, 75% of KEA members will make $77,220 or more. 

Since the 2017-18 school year, KEA salaries have increased approximately 31%. 

We will send communications to families and staff over the weekend. Please be prepared to make alternate arrangements for Monday, August 29, for potential continued school closure.  We will notify you as soon as possible if schools will remain closed or will reopen.

High school sports programs are continuing as scheduled. All elementary and middle school athletics and activities will be postponed until further notice.

We are eager for students to return to school, and understand the burden placed on families if schools remain closed. We continue to bargain with the Kent Education Association (KEA).

Updates will continue to be posted on school and district websites.

Resources

Community resources and local food bank information.

Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions   

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming our students and all staff back to school as soon as possible.

NO SCHOOL FRIDAY 8/26/22 

After negotiating into the night, Wednesday, August 24, 2022, our negotiation teams continued the mediation process Thursday morning and will continue as long as it takes to reach an agreement. 

Postponing the start of school affects everyone in our community and places a hardship on our families. Please know that all meetings, kindergarten assessments, and activities are canceled at the elementary and middle schools and will be rescheduled when school resumes. High school athletics continue as scheduled.  

Our bargaining teams are actively engaged in seeking solutions that will end the strike/work stoppage, reopen schools, and return to a cooperative and respectful learning environment. We continue to support our negotiation teams and will keep you informed on the progress with updates posted on school and district websites. 

Please find Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions here.  

The start of school is delayed due to a strike/work stoppage by the Kent Education Association (KEA) in the Kent School District (KSD). The KEA has informed us it is planning to go on strike beginning the scheduled first day of school, August 25, 2022. 

We are deeply committed to recruiting and retaining a high-quality workforce that serves to equip every student to be globally competitive in college, careers, and in life. We remain in negotiations with the KEA and remain committed to reaching an agreement and starting school as soon as possible.  

This page will have the most up-to-date information related to the strike/work stoppage. The newest information will be at the top of this page. You will receive another communication when the first day of school is decided.

Be sure your contact information, including phone number and email address, is up to date in Skyward to receive email and phone messages. 

High school and middle school offices and the district central office will remain open. In addition, families can continue to register their children through the district website. We are continuing high school sports programs. All elementary and middle school activities will be postponed until further notice. 

We will also post on our social media sites and mobile app when school will begin. 

Find us on Facebook 

Follow us on Twitter

Download our mobile app, which can be translated into 77 languages. 

Resources

Please find Frequently Asked Work Stoppage Questions here.

Community resources and local food bank information.

Thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time. We look forward to welcoming our teachers, students, and all staff back to school as soon as possible.

As you may have heard, it has been reported the Kent Education Association has authorized a strike if agreement is not reached Wednesday, August 24.  

Our goal is to start school on time with no disruption of instruction.The two negotiation teams met with the mediator yesterday and are back at the bargaining table this morning. With the well-being of our students in mind, our teams are continuing to bargain in good faith to come to a speedy resolution that is fair and fiscally responsible. 

We will notify families and staff as soon as possible if school will be delayed or if it will begin on time. Please check your email or voicemail for that communication. Please visit our website or, if you have any questions, please call the district at 253-373-7000.

First Day of School Possibly Delayed 

The Kent School District (KSD) is looking forward to beginning school and welcoming our students and staff. We know it is best for students to begin school as soon as possible and for families and staff to have predictable school operations. We are working toward these goals. 

Over the summer, we have been working with our labor partners, Kent Education Association (KEA), on a contract that supports both educators and students to fulfill our mission of successfully preparing all students for their futures, while being regionally competitive and remaining fiscally responsible. Kent School District’s proposal prior to the recent KEA membership meeting on August 22 offered similar increases to our neighboring and regional districts who have recently completed their bargaining processes and keeps teacher salaries competitive. 

We are beginning mediations facilitated by the Washington State Public Employment Relations Commission with the goal of reaching an agreement and starting school on time. Bringing in a mediator is a common practice during this process. It has been reported that the Kent Education Association has authorized a strike if an agreement is not reached Wednesday, August 24, which would delay the start of school. 

While we are continuing to work on reaching a contract agreement with KEA, we recognize the need to provide families with time to plan for any alternate childcare solutions beginning with the first day of school, August 25, if it becomes necessary.  

Updates on school starting will be posted on school and the district websites including the KSD home page. In the event the start of school is delayed, we will use multiple modes of communication to alert families of the closure including voicemail, emails, social media including district Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and both school and district websites. 

We respect our educators, and we believe that we share the same vision for teaching and learning with our labor partners and we look forward to seeing students, families, and staff on the first day of school. 

The Kent School District is looking forward to the beginning of school and welcoming our students and staff. Students in grades 1-12 begin on Thursday, August 25, and kindergartners begin Tuesday, August 30.

Over the summer, we have been working with our labor partners, Kent Education Association (KEA), on a contract that supports both educators and students to fulfill our mission of successfully preparing all students for their futures.

What we know is best for students is for school to begin on time and we are working toward this goal. As the labor negotiation process continues, updates will be posted here.

We believe that we share the same vision for teaching and learning with our labor partners and we look forward to seeing students, families, and staff on the first day of school.