Evergreen support staff continuing strike, calls school district's tactics 'disrespectful'

[Omaha Steve]

Source: KOIN

by: Matt Rawlings Posted: Aug 29, 2025 / 07:10 PM PDT Updated: Aug 29, 2025 / 10:14 PM PDT

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The strike taking place at Evergreen Public Schools will continue as union leaders reject a final offer from the district on Friday, calling their tactics “disrespectful.”

The strike by support staff, including paraeducators, bus drivers, and service workers, started on what would have been the first day of school on Tuesday, Aug. 26.

According to the union, a final offer was presented on Friday and the district called on union leaders to vote with only a few hours’ notice.

“Evergreen PSE’s members, nearly 1,400 classified employees across the district, cannot be assembled on a few hours’ notice. Union members, not the district, determine when and how contract ratification votes are held,” the union said. “Classified employees will not vote to ratify a contract that falls short of meeting their needs and the needs of Evergreen students.”

Read more: https://www.koin.com/news/washington/evergreen-support-staff-continuing-strike-calls-school-districts-tactics-disrespectful/

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FULL story & VIDEO at link. Almost 1,400 on strike. And the teachers are honoring the picket line.

[Mosby]

1. Seems like bad timing

The evergreen school district is facing a $26,000,000 budget shortfall over the next three years. In addition, the student population is falling rapidly, 18% over the past eight years.

[Teacher of the Year]

2. A few years ago....

In Eugene the school district took all their paraprofessional jobs a few years ago and cut most to half time. I met with teachers there who had a dozen or so paraprofessionals. The paras worked half a day, then other ones came in and worked the second half of the day. All this so that nobody qualified for health insurance.

District's don't blink at paying the uppity ups 100s of 1000s of dollars and pay for lunches, cars, travel, but they won't pay their paras enough to afford to eat at McDonalds.