LITTLE ROCK, AR -- District and union leaders say they're still talking, which they consider good news. However, they won't give any specific information.
"We're gonna meet tomorrow morning at 10:30 at the AEA (Arkansas Education Association) building. No comments at this time," said Emry Chesterfield, president of the Pulaski Association of Support Staff.
"I have nothing more important to resolve this issue. We've got to balance 2012-13 budget and in order to balance it we've got to make some changes," said Dr. Jerry Guess, superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District.
But what if the groups fail to agree on something?
That's when the professional policies committee, or PPC, steps in to decide on employee policies. It's made up of teachers and support staff elected by their peers to represent employees.
"This is just what a what-if case. We need it before May 1 when the policies, if there's a change, need to take place," said Paul Brewer, the district's human resources executive director.
Brewer said the formation of the group by no means signals what may be taking place during the negotiations. Teachers and staff just want to be in place and have a contract handy.
"Everything involved in a contract, what types of leaves you have,how is it counted how much leave you have, salaries, any policies that deal with your workday," said Brewer.
But district and union leaders hope they don't have to make it to that point, confident the mediators will bring the negotiations to a peaceful end.
