Pullman School District, teachers' union reach tentative agreement

The Pullman School District and the local teachers union say they have reached a tentative agreement in compensation negotiations, with teachers securing a 17 percent raise to be applied over the course of the next two years. Pending ratification by the union, also known as the Pullman Education Association, 15 percent of the raise is scheduled to be applied in the coming school year, with an additional 2 percent to be implemented for the 2019-2020 school year.

The raise brings the maximum starting wage for a teacher with a bachelor's degree to around $45,500 in the coming year, and to $46,600 for the 2019 school year. Those at the top of the pay scale - teachers who have earned a doctorate and have been with the district for at least 16 years - will be paid nearly $88,000 by fall 2019. While the Pullman School Board and the PEA still have to ratify the deal, PSD officials say they hope to have an agreement finalized when students return to classes Aug. 29.