Governor Christine Gregoire last week called both sides in the Kent School District-Kent Education Association contract dispute to urge both sides to work together.
According to Karina Shagren, a spokesperson for the governor, Gregoire called both Superintendent Edward Lee Vargas and KEA president Lisa Brackin Johnson Thursday afternoon.
“She’s encouraging both sides to continue negotiations in good faith and she wants a quick resolution,” Shagren said.
Brackin Johnson said Gregoire asked about the bargaining process and said she wanted to see if there was anything she could do to move the process forward.
Brackin Johnson said she told Gregoire that negotiations were at a “stalemate” and suggested another set of eyes may help the process.
A second mediator from the Public Employment Relations Committee was assigned to Kent over the weekend.
Brackin Johnson said the governor was very personable and easy to talk to and seemed genuinely concerned about the situation.
“She wanted to see the situation settled as soon as possible,” Brackin Johnson said.
Vargas did not return a request for comment on the phone call by press time.
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