Members of the Longview Education Association have a new contract to go along with the new school year. Union officials report that their membership “resoundingly” voted to support the new contract, which includes greater financial penalties for the district when classrooms are overloaded. LEA President Dennis Weber says that a third of the district’s teachers worked in overcrowded classrooms last year; under this news agreement, teachers will be paid for classroom supplies, extra hours for paid teacher’s aides, workshop expenses and cash. The new contract also established a joint committee to study the issue of overcrowding and special education students. The teachers rejected a district offer to pay for two more days of workshops, opting instead for the overcrowding provisions. The new contract also recognizes the state’s cancellation of a promised COLA raise, while also providing more than $760 per month per teacher for health insurance.
