Mediator Calls New Talks In Dixon
By: Robert Burke
Updated: March 12, 2013
The federal mediator assigned to assist in negotiations between Dixon teachers and the school board has called for new talks Tuesday.
Dixon teachers say that they are willing to meet, but there has been no word yet from the school board."We are absolutely committed to getting back to the negotiations table today and bringing this dispute to an end as fast as humanly possible," said Sandra Sodergren-Baar, President of the DEA. "If the board will meet with us with a sincere desire to find a solution, we know we can get this done and get the students back in school."
Sodergren-Baar said several items in dispute have been settled in the last few negotiation sessions. Remaining major items include class size, availability of textbooks, length of instructional year, compensation and insurance.
"These major sticking points are resolvable if all parties come to the table with the commitment to do so," Sodergren-Baar said. "But it takes two to reach an agreement. We're here and ready to negotiate."
The DEA President said teacher representatives reached out through the mediator to school board members on Sunday and invited them to become more directly involved in discussions to resolve the dispute.
