Mediation Talks to Resume on Wednesday
After a 21-hour mediation session, the Reynolds School District bargaining team has agreed to take a break and resume talks on Wednesday. The District and the Reynolds Education Association (REA) have exchanged proposals since 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 20. The talks are scheduled to resume from 9am to 5pm on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at New Beginnings Church, which is located at 3300 NE 172nd Place in Portland, Oregon 97230.
The District presented its latest proposal at 5:25 a.m. It included a three-year financial package of $3.8 million and agreements to concessions to contractual language requested by the association. The District also offered a two percent cost of living increase if the state increases funding to school; this proposal is similar to Gresham-Barlow’s recent agreement. The District’s offer also included an increase in the insurance contribution to employees.
The District’s offer include the following concessions to contract language:
• Continuance clause: Allows an automatic step raise on July 1 by continuing the contract past the expiration date.
• Prep time: Allows staff to have guaranteed prep time during the student-contact day.
• Staff would have a guaranteed break for health and personal reasons within a four-hour block.
• A return to current contract language regarding school funding. This means that there is no reopener language proposed by the District.
• Work-year proposal: Addressed many of the REA’s concerns in employee rights, including work-place safety, non-discrimination, student performance on tests, and providing necessary materials and equipment.
Funding continues to be the main area of disagreement. REA returned a two-year proposal that would be $4 million higher than the District’s plan during the same three-year period.
The members of the District’s bargaining team have maintained their commitment to good financial stewardship that minimizes any impact to students, including reductions in days and increases in class size.
The District is also committed to a civil bargaining process and maintaining positive relationships with teachers when an agreement is reached. They plan to return to the bargaining table on Wendesday to allow both sides to come back refreshed and ready to continue discussions.
Despite repeated REA claims that the negotiations are not about the money, the District bargaining team members are disappointed that the major language concessions by the district have not resulted in a financial agreement.
