Sumner Paraeducators Strike Cancels School Friday

SUMNER, WA — School will be canceled Friday for students in Bonney Lake and Sumner after paraeducators could not reach a contract agreement with the school district Thursday afternoon. The Sumner Paraeducator Association said proposals from the school board fell short of being competitive and would still rank them among the lowest paid compared to neighboring districts.

The paraeducators' contract expired on August 31st. Earlier this month union members approved an October 24th strike deadline by 99 percent . Teachers with the Sumner Education Association voted unanimously to not cross their picket lines and will not report for work. Picketing will begin Friday morning.

The Sumner-Bonney Lake School District confirmed schools will be closed until further notice. Most sports and after-school activities will go on as planned, but all middle school dances scheduled for Friday are canceled. District officials released a statement on the strike Thursday afternoon:

"The District deeply values our paraeducators. We’ve been working hard and bargaining in good faith with para association representatives since June, with the desire to reach a fair resolution that’s within our financial means. Unfortunately, even with the assistance of a state mediator, we have not yet come to an agreement. The District is committed to bargaining until we have an agreement."

Parents can track developments and review detailed information on the school district's website.