Mount Vernon paraeducators reach agreement after 2 day strike [Video]

Mount Vernon paraeducators have come to an agreement with the school district after a two-day strike.

The Public School Employees of Washington labor union announced the new contract in a Facebook post Thursday evening. The union was able to almost double its original offer, receiving a 5.2% raise for all paraeducators.

Paraeducators can fill several roles including individual support with students, general classroom support, helping implement special education, assisting small groups of students with lessons, monitoring lunch hours and recess and helping students with special needs, according to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

“I want to thank all of the parents, teachers, other union members, and the Mt. Vernon community for showing up to our pickets over the last two days,” Mt. Vernon Union Chapter President Freedom Gassoway said via the post.

The first day back from summer break was supposed to be August 28 but classes were stalled as the two parties worked to find a middle ground. Union members took to the …