MOSES LAKE — Teachers and supporters gathered Tuesday afternoon outside Moses Lake High School, voicing frustrations over stalled contract negotiations with the Moses Lake School District. It is a continuation of ongoing negotiations that have left the Moses Lake Educators Association without a contract since June, intensifying calls for fair treatment and improved working conditions.  

MLEA President Heather Whittall opened the gathering, emphasizing the importance of unity among educators and the community.  

“We’re ready for another bargaining session with the Moses Lake School District, but we need the district to make Moses Lake students your priority,” Whittall said. “We need a contract that does not include any takebacks and supports our students and staff in every building at every level.” 

MLEA, representing educators from various schools, including Groff, Midway, and Frontier, expressed concerns regarding the district’s demands for concessions from their existing contracts.  

“Our bargaining team is standing up and resisting the district's attempts to demand concessions and takebacks from our current contract. These unnecessary takebacks would be harmful for members and would make it even harder to attract and retain great educators here in Moses Lake,” Whittall said. 

Whittall highlighted a significant point of contention: the district's substantial reserve balance of nearly $20 million, while arguing that Moses Lake students are not receiving equitable opportunities compared to their peers in neighboring districts.  

“An excessive fund balance of 12% or more is not required by law, and it far exceeds the reserves held by other school districts in our region and across the state. It’s time for the district to make our students’ learning conditions and our working conditions their number one issue,” Whittall said. 

District administration has said many of the union’s complaints are related to the district’s recent financial crisis. The district has a multi-year plan in place to restore its financial foundation, and at least one more school year of cutbacks is needed to ensure financial stability.  

The rally featured speeches from various association members, including Danielle Johnson, lead negotiator for the MLEA, who said the union is working to get a fair contract.  

“We used to hold ourselves up as the place people wanted to be on this side of the state. This year has been a fight, tooth and nail, to keep that contract intact. They want to eliminate all of our professional development, take away family leave benefits, and micromanage our work,” Johnson said.  

Adding to the poignant discourse was Stephanie Strom, a teacher at Midway Elementary.  

“We just want to thank you for coming out. It means a lot to us to see you here. We don’t need to be working for free,” she said. “There’s no reason we should be doing all this extra work for free. There’s money to pay you for that.” 

Numerous attendees expressed their frustrations over the district's refusal to restore essential programs, particularly in elementary education. The MLEA has been vocal about restoring the elementary schedule, which has been reduced by thirty minutes daily, and programs that have existed for decades, labeling the cuts as detrimental to the educational experience of young learners. 

“Our community has been amazing. We just want a fair contract that attracts great educators, retains them, and creates a workplace you can be proud of,” she said.

    Moses Lake Educators Association lead negotiator and Groff Elementary School staff member Danielle Johnson said the team is still working on bargaining, which began in June with the Moses Lake School District.