A unit of more than 800 paraeducators, secretaries and other classified staff in Vancouver Public Schools ratified a new three-year contract Sept. 29. Members of Vancouver Association of Educational Support Professionals approved the contract with 67.2% support.
Workers received raises averaging 3.2% effective Sept. 1, 2025, including a 2.5% inflation-based raise and an additional $0.15 to $0.35 per hour depending on what step they are at. Workers will get another inflation-based raise plus $0.15 per hour in 2026. The union and management will meet again in 2027 to negotiate wages in the third year of the contract, which expires Aug. 31, 2028.
Members had authorized a strike Sept. 11. The union and district reached tentative agreement on the new contract Sept. 15.
Jedd Rivera, a UniServ (United Services) director for Southwest Washington locals of the Washington Education Association, said the union wasn’t able to secure larger raises because of the district’s poor financial situation.
The previous contract gave an additional $10 daily stipend to paraeducators in certain programs or who were working while other paraeducators were absent. The new contract replaced those stipends with hourly wage increases, which some workers opposed.
Rivera said the new contract fared better with noneconomic wins, like more union leave, improved bereavement language, two additional paid inclement-weather days for year-round employees, and more paraeducator and union involvement in setting staffing ratios. Staffing ratios during lunch and recess are a major safety concern, with two paraeducators sometimes responsible for monitoring 100 students on the playground, local union president Chipo Sowards said in September.
