I am writing on behalf of the Northshore Educational Office Professionals Association (NEOPA). This organization includes but is not limited to the school office secretaries and registrars, the district payroll and business support personnel in most departments at the district office. We are the people who work behind the scenes, and sometimes out in front, to keep the Northshore School District running smoothly.

This year our contract was open for re-negotiation, along with the teachers’ union contract, and several contracts of other district employees. Unfortunately, while the district has settled with all the other employee groups, we are still in negotiations.

Thus far, the school district has been unwilling to reach a fair settlement with us, though our current contract expired at the end of August and we have been in negotiations for many months now. Our members have stood in unity at two recent school board meetings as well as written letters to the district decision makers to no avail.

Our NEOPA employees have gone numerous years without a salary increase, and we have had many positions eliminated or hours reduced due to district cuts, yet our work load has increased. The most current offer of settlement from the district asked us to fund our own raise, by taking money from our Professional Development fund and using these monies as our salary increase.

The Teachers’ Union not only received an increase of 1.9 percent from the state but also a 2.25 percent increase from the district which equals a total 4.15 percent increase in annual salary. NEOPA members are asking the district for a 3 percent increase each year, for either a two or a three year contract, 1.9 percent of which would be funded by an increased salary allocation from the state. This increase for the approximately 135 NEOPA members would be a $165,000 annual increase in cost, which is a very small portion of the District’s budget, which totals more than $100 million this year.

Due to a recent Supreme Court ruling on McCleary vs. Washington State the legislature allocated an additional $9.5 million in new money to the Northshore School District this year (2013-14). We feel our request is modest, and is supported by increases in the cost of living and as well as the time we’ve gone without any increase in salary.

NEOPA personnel deserve respect and a fair contract. We ask for your support. Please contact our school board members: Julia Lacey, Janet Quinn, Dawn McCravey, Sandy Hayes or Todd Banks, along with Superintendent Larry Francois and Human Resources Director JoAnn Steiner.

Marie Jefferson, NEOPA