Dozens of Evergreen Public Schools staff, parents and community members urged the school board Tuesday to settle a labor dispute that had delayed the start of the school year and left many families scrambling for childcare and staff short-handed.

Speakers at the virtual public comment period — including paraeducators, classroom teachers and parents — described low pay, long hours and safety concerns that they said have driven employees away and forced many to strike. “I am exhausted, frustrated, and livid,” said Whitney Van Volkenberg, identifying herself as a special-education paraeducator at Ellsworth, who asked the board to “Give us a fair contract now.”

The testimony focused on why the strike began and its community effects: paraeducators and other classified staff said pay averages were low, that staff frequently work unpaid minutes each day such as supervising students at arrival and dismissal, and that many employees hold second jobs to make ends meet. “Most of my coworkers work at least one additional job just to make ends meet,” Van Volkenberg said. Adam Aguilera, a teacher, told the board, “This isn’t about safety. It’s about avoiding accountability,” criticizing the district’s decision to move the meeting online and its public timeline of bargaining responses. Several speakers said they had seen or been told of rapid “no” replies on the district’s posted bargaining timeline and questioned whether the management team had meaningfully reviewed union proposals.

Parents described disruption and anxiety caused by repeated school delays. “My son was all ready and excited to begin kindergarten this year. The strike and the uncertainty of when school will start is very hard on him,” said parent Jamie Allen, who urged the parties to call a mediator. Students and parents warned of enrollment losses if the dispute continued. “I have friends who are unenrolling from Evergreen currently or thinking about it,” said a student, Gavin Ascolts, speaking with his grandmother Nancy Doyle.

Several speakers gave financial figures during testimony. One parent said the district spent “nearly $500,000 in legal fees in six months, and $105,000 in February alone,” and at least one paraeducator contended that some administrators received raises “that exceed what most parents make an entire year.” Multiple speakers urged the board to prioritize funds for student-facing staff rather than legal costs or administrative pay.

Speakers also raised workplace safety, behavior incidents and staffing levels. Derek Sizemann, a special-education paraeducator, said turnover was driven by “controllable erosion” and urged the district to invest in frontline staff. Several long-tenured employees described physical incidents at work and being unpaid for minutes spent escorting students to or from buses.

Not all speakers supported the strike. Channing Rossi, who identified himself as a parent, told the board it must prioritize the district’s budget and said “we are in a budget crisis,” adding that staff should seek additional hours if needed. Andrew Gilbert, another parent, pressed the board to consider court options, saying he expected the district to “use every tool at your disposal, even an injunction through the court, to end this legal strike and reopen our schools.”

Board members acknowledged the testimony and said they were working toward a resolution. “We are listening. We are reading your emails. We want our students back in the classroom,” said a board member during the meeting’s closing remarks. Directors also said they are meeting daily to track bargaining. The board did not take a formal vote related to contract terms during the meeting.

The public comment period lasted roughly as long as scheduled and covered a wide range of personal experiences and policy requests; speakers repeatedly asked the board to resume bargaining, to prioritize pay for classified staff and to increase transparency around negotiations. With no tentative agreement announced at the meeting, parents and staff said they will continue to press both sides to reach a deal that restores regular school operations.

Less critical details: the board approved the meeting agenda and routine consent items during the same session, and the meeting adjourned after board members made closing remarks about repairing relationships once a tentative agreement is reached.