The Highline School Board has officially approved a three-year contract with Highline teachers at last night’s school board meeting. The contract was ratified by Highline Education Association (HEA) members on Monday by a vote of 97.4 percent.

The contract:

• Raises teachers’ salaries to make them competitive with comparable districts.
• Rewards Highline’s most experienced educators with additional pay, incentivizing them to stay in the district.
• Increases teacher voice in selection of curriculum and instructional materials.
• Reduces the amount of paperwork required of educators so they can focus on planning quality instruction.
• Deepens the partnership between district leaders and HEA on the Professional Growth and Evaluation system, or teacher evaluations.
• Establishes the student calendar for the next three years.
• Establishes a joint committee to look at possible alternatives to early release that provide teachers with the time they need and want for collaboration and professional learning. Currently students are dismissed 90 minutes early on Fridays.

“This contract reflects our commitment to supporting and investing in our teachers,” said Superintendent Susan Enfield.

HEA President Sue McCabe said both sides worked hard to find good solutions and that the contract was received enthusiastically at the membership ratification meeting.

“It was one of the largest membership meetings I have seen in Highline, and it is the first one where there was cheering,” said McCabe. “Teachers feel valued.”

McCabe and Enfield credited both bargaining teams for their work to develop a win-win contract agreement.