District inks three-year contract with PSE

The Enumclaw School District and its Public School Employee members, classified staff members, have agreed to a three-year contract. The announcement was made at the Enumclaw School Board’s regular meeting Dec. 15, where the board approved the agreement.

The Enumclaw School District and its Public School Employee members, classified staff members, have agreed to a three-year contract. The announcement was made at the Enumclaw School Board’s regular meeting Dec. 15, where the board approved the agreement.

“We’re pleased with the work of both groups,” Superintendent Mike Nelson said prior to the meeting.

District Human Resources Director Kathy Lockyer pointed out the difference between the last contract and this one for board members.

PSE members who work a full calendar year will receive an additional two holiday days.

The agreement also changes emergency personal days to personal days. Taking out the emergency language, Lockyer said, allows employees to use the days at their own discretion.

Under the new agreement, PSE representatives will also be part of the benefits committee and will also form a committee to look at professional development.

The contract also calls for a pay increase for employees.

In other business, the board:

• reorganized, voting in Cathy Dahlquist for another term as president, as well as maintaining Nancy Merrill as vice president and Chris VanHoof as legislative representative. It was also announced that Merrill and VanHoof will serve as state representatives. Merrill in the legislative arm and VanHoof with the West Central District 3.

• set 7 p.m. Jan. 20 for its next regular meeting. The Jan. 20 meeting is a Tuesday to accommodate the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Both will be in the board conference room at the school district office.

• postponed the Black Diamond Elementary School presentation due to weather. It will be rescheduled for January.

• accepted a donation of $1,200 from the Kibler PTA to Kibler Elementary School for the purchase of document cameras and accessories; the donation of $4,500 from the Kibler PTA to Kibler Elementary to be used for field trips, supplies, books and other needs; donation of a flatbed utility trailer valued at $750 from the Tacoma School District for the Enumclaw High School agriculture department; donation of $500 from North Bend Automotive to the EHS volleyball program; and a donation of a $1,000 grant from the Boeing Employees Credit Union to Thunder Mountain Middle School to be used to purchase books for the library.

• heard from parent Laurie West, who was requesting the district look at bringing the activity bus back and add a foreign language program, perhaps Spanish, to the elementary curriculum.

• accepted Stuart Johnson’s resignation as auditorium technician at EHS.

• changed Sandra VanHoof’s assignment from Early Childhood Education Assistance Program (ECEAP) paraeducator to lead teacher at Black Diamond.

• gave transportation paraeducator Carolyn Hagan additional hours.

• hired bus driver Carl Merrill and Kibler Elementary paraeducator Kimberly Bailey.