Of the five main school districts that cover East County, only one had signed contracts with its unions as of Monday afternoon, Aug. 27.

With school starting as soon as next week, all the districts say negotiations are proceeding and progress is being made.

The Montesano School District is negotiating with both its classified workers and teachers unions.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Superintendent Dan Winter said Monday. “Both sides are working together to come up with an agreeable number.”

No date had been set as of Monday for the unions and district to meet next.

The Elma School District is in “active mediation” with the classified workers union. The teachers had reaced an agreement as of Monday, Aug. 27.

Superintendent Kevin Acuff says the Legislature’s actions revamping how districts are funded has made the process more difficult.

“The way this has gone from the Legislature to the local district has really put local unions and districts in a difficult position,” he said via email. “Having said that, I want to state that the people who work in our district have been positive and professional every step of the way in these negotiations. They care about kids and they show that every day they come to work.

“So, however this progresses, the teachers, bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, paraprofessionals and all others who serve the students of our district are people that I’m proud to work with every day,” he said. “It is my fervent hope that we can resolve this soon and get back to talking about what we love best, teaching, learning and serving the students of our district.”

The Satsop School District unions and school board have agreed to 12 percent raises as part of a new one-year contract signed at the July 16 board meeting.

“Renegotiations will happen for next school year,” Superintendent Marsha Hendrick said.

The Oakville School District superintendent said negotiations have been completed with the teachers union, but the contract has not been signed. The classified workers (which include just about everybody except the certified teachers) finished their negotiations in June. No details were available about their contract.

The Mary M. Knight superintendent, Ellen Perconti, says her district’s classified worker contract went before the board Monday night. No update was available prior to the press deadline as to whether that contract had been approved.

The district and teachers were still working through a few issues to come to agreement.

“Negotiations are going very well,” Perconti said. “It’s just a matter of sitting down enough times that we can come to an agreement, then finalize the documents. It’s an ongoing process.”

Both sides were scheduled to meet Monday, but officials did not respond to requests for comment on the results of that meeting.

To reach Michael Lang, editor for the Vidette, call 360-537-3936 or email mlang@thevidette.com.