Evergreen School District certified staff member Shelly Prothro shares her thoughts about current collective bargaining
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
I’m a registered behavioral technician at Hollingsworth Academy in Evergreen School District. We are a specialty program that takes the “impossible students” with “unmanageable behaviors,” gives them the tools and skills they need to succeed, then transitions them back to their home school with a 92% success rate. We consistently run a waitlist.
Shelly Prothro
Our program is the best in the region, and possibly the state. Multiple districts, including Vancouver, Battle Ground, Washougal, and La Center, send students to our program. We also regularly host visitors from as far as Seattle, who come to learn from our successful program.
At Hollingsworth, essential roles like one on one paraeducators, registered behavioral technicians, and special education bus drivers are all part of the PSE Union. For the first time in the union’s history, we are on strike as we negotiate our new contract. For us, a new contract isn’t just about a living wage. It’s about our basic physical and mental safety on the job.
Everyone in my building works off the clock to make sure our students’ needs are met. Nearly everyone has a second job just to pay bills, leaving us stretched thin mentally, physically, and emotionally. Due to low wages, our building has never been fully staffed. Every surrounding district pays their support staff more and provides appropriate hazard pay. Last year, the district filled several of our para positions with staff from a temp agency, at around double the cost of hiring our own employees. Even with these temp workers, we remain dangerously understaffed.
Hollingsworth staff are specially trained to handle extreme emotional and physical dysregulation safely, but it’s not safe when we’re understaffed. Last year, Evergreen eliminated one of our behavior intervention coach positions. What was the result of this “cost-saving” measure? At least four concussions, two major surgeries, multiple rounds of physical therapy for multiple different people, and thousands in property damage. Medical care for these workplace injuries costs the district many times the salary of that behavioral intervention coach. As one who was severely injured, I know that some of these injuries, and the expensive medical care they require, would have been prevented with proper staffing.
Our people are what makes our program so successful and amazing. So what do we get from the district in return? Exhausted minds, broken and mutilated bodies, and an extra $1.50 per hour compared to our colleagues at other district schools. Meanwhile, Jenae Gomes, Jennifer Jacobson, Craig Birnbach, and others earn well over $215,000 a year – more than the Governor – and they all just got raises. From the district’s perspective, classified staff, the ones working directly with students, are the problem because we want to be paid a decent wage. Besides the financial costs of temp agencies, medical bills, and property damage, there is a moral cost. The district’s proposed contract accepts serious workplace injury and employee burnout as just part of the cost of running a school. The district is willing to spend $10.5 million on 67 of the least student-facing positions but won’t spend $1.5 million on 1,400 of the most student-facing people. Yes, the difference between the Union’s and District’s proposals is only $1.5 million and the district is not budging.
We want to be back in school and see our kiddos. We just want it to be safe and get paid a livable wage. If you agree, please contact:
Dr. Christine Moloney, Superintendent: 360-604-4005 christine.moloney@evergreenps.org
Board President Jacqueline Weatherspoon: 360-882-8782 jacqueline.weatherspoon@evergreenps.org
and the Board of Directors: board.directors@evergreenps.org
@EvergreenPS on social media
Shelly Prothro
Vancouver
Also read:
POLL: How confident are you in Vancouver’s current city leadership to address the community’s biggest challenges?As Vancouver prepares for local elections, this week’s Clark County Today poll asks how confident residents are in the city’s current leadership to address homelessness, housing, safety, and transparency.
Opinion: Two paths to power – voting and signingNancy Churchill urges Washington voters to act on both their ballots and new initiatives, emphasizing that voting and signing petitions are the two key paths to reclaim political power from Olympia.
Opinion: Heritage, ballrooms and basketballLars Larson argues that Democrats are weary of America’s wins under President Trump, pointing to strong economic numbers and contrasting White House heritage projects between Trump and Obama.
Opinion: To protect a safety net and taxpayers, reforms to Medicaid Long-Term Care are neededElizabeth New (Hovde) argues that Medicaid Long-Term Care needs reform to ensure benefits serve those truly in need and preserve taxpayer resources for the vulnerable.
Letter: ‘It’s not just politics, it’s about trust, transparency, and results’Camas resident Anna Miller urges support for Councilor Leslie Lewallen, citing her transparency, courage, and commitment to the community’s trust and future.