Northshore teachers Aug. 27 ratified a three-year contract that includes a 4.4 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for this school year – as approved by the Legislature – more resources for

teacher training, and many changes to contract language regarding workload.

Over the next three years, Northshore teachers will also receive modest increases above the COLAs provided by the Legislature to maintain competitive salaries with surrounding school districts.

Recent state-mandated COLAs have not been fully funded by the Legislature for all district employees; local levy dollars supplement the basic allocation provided by the state. Some parts of the agreement depend on the continued successful passage of the Northshore technology levy, which is expected to be presented to voters next in

2010.

Revised workload language includes a memorandum of understanding to work toward reducing the number of larger class sizes and overloads, which occur when enrollment in a class exceeds contractual class-size goals. Another addition to the workload language includes providing sufficient materials and paid training for teaching any new or updated curriculum, assessments, or instructional programs.

The school year will start as planned on Sept. 2. The Northshore

School Board is expected to approve the agreement at its Sept. 9

meeting.