La Center teachers went on strike Wednesday, Sept. 3, just one week after the school year began on Aug. 27.
The demonstration follows months of negotiations with the district that failed to resolve a dispute over salaries.
The La Center Education Association (LCEA) initiated a strike demanding that the district pass through the full 2.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) funded by the state for the 2025–26 school year. The district had first countered by proposing only half of that increase go into staff salaries, with the other half directed into reserves, citing concerns about future funding stability.
During the first week of the strike, the district revised its offer. According to an online FAQ, the district has since proposed to pass through 100% of the cost-of-living funds it receives from the state in each year of a six-year contract. The union, which seeks a shorter contract, was still in negotiations with the district as of press time.
While both sides reached agreement on most issues by late summer, salaries remained unsettled as students returned to classrooms. The union held off on striking during the first week of school, but called a work stoppage after hearing the district’s latest proposal.
“It's unacceptable, and the more we dig into the budget information, the more feasible it seems for them to pass the COLA through to us, and yet they become more and more reluctant to do that, and it's frustrating,” Brian Clegg of the LCEA President’s Team said Wednesday.
LCEA leaders argued that the district has the capacity to afford the increase, pointing to years of steady enrollment and successful levy approvals.
Educators rallied across all three campuses during the strike’s first day. Community members and retirees joined picket lines, while classified staff represented by SEIU Local 925 stood in solidarity, though they did not formally strike.
High school special education teacher Sarah Cottle drew attention by running between the three schools during the demonstration. In less than two hours, she had run nine miles, intent to keep running throughout the protests.
“I’m running miles for a fair contract for teachers,” Cottle said during a brief stop.
Union leaders emphasized that their demand is not for additional funding beyond what the state provided, but for the district to apply the COLA as intended. Teachers have stressed that without the adjustment, their pay effectively shrinks against inflation, making it harder to live and work in Clark County.
“We just want a fair contract,” union President Andrea Austad said.
As of Friday, Sept. 7, the strike was still in effect.
This story was updated to include the school district’s latest offer made to LCEA.
