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DPS and its teachers union have been negotiating since Jan. 6, with the help of a federal mediator since May 4, to reach a new contract to replace the agreement that expires June 30. The new school year starts Aug. 15.
DPS Superintendent Rhonda Corr expressed hope that the mediator would “decide that we should come back to the table” sooner than August, saying there had been significant progress before the district and teachers hit their current stalemate.
But Romick said the fact that the sides had basically slowed to a stop on the remaining 20-plus issues — after accelerated progress in late May — is a problem.
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“I think the two sides would have to come to the mediator and suggest more sessions, but would also have to have some concrete ideas as to how to make those sessions more productive than they have been recently,” Romick said.
The parties are already on their second federal mediator — a system where the two sides are in separate rooms, with an intermediary carrying proposals back and forth, trying to find compromise.
Romick said most of the remaining issues are included in the union’s priority topics — salary, benefits, the structure of the school day, the time clock and employee transfer language. He cited a new proposal for “English Language Learners” as an example of an issue that already has been resolved.
Corr would not comment on details of the remaining issues, but said the district has taken some steps to improve the working conditions that the union has been emphasizing as key to student learning.
“The district has been proactive by hiring 28 teacher leaders and 17 phonics coaches to enhance the learning opportunities for our students and support our teachers,” Corr said.
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The mediator suspended talks for June and July on Tuesday “as a result of extremely limited progress during an extended period of mediation,” union officials said.
Corr has publicly expressed respect for the teachers and optimism that a deal will get done.
“Our team wants nothing more than to go back to the table and to have a fair contract for both sides,” Corr said. “We remain hopeful that we can reach an agreement.”
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The school year ended almost two weeks ago, so this week’s news does not have any immediate impact on students. Union officials said teachers currently plan to continue their scheduled summer school and training activities.
If the school district and teachers union do not negotiate again before August, they would have only two weeks before the Aug. 15 start of school to reach a new agreement.
The teachers union has been using a “no contract, no work” slogan. Romick said it’s still possible they’d be willing to start the school year without a deal if there was great progress and an agreement seemed imminent.
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“But I’d give that possibility less of chance than I did the last time we spoke about this (last month),” he said.
Both sides say they remain committed to striking a deal … within reason.
Said Corr: “Both sides have to give a little and somebody takes a little. It’s got to be a fair contract and something that is good for all parties.”
Added Romick: “Nothing would make Dayton teachers happier than to move back into their classrooms, (but) it is essential that we get this right.”
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