A federal mediator has suspended contract negotiations with representatives of Dayton Public Schools and the teachers union, after the two parties reached a stalemate. The suspension of talks could impact the start of the 2017-2018 school year, union officials say.
Negotiations are set to resume in August. If an agreement isn’t reached before the district’s August 15 start date, the union may move ahead with plans to strike.
The federal mediator was brought into talks last month, after the two parties reached a previous impasse in the negotiations, which have been underway since January.
The teachers union has staged rallies at school board meetings in recent weeks, wearing buttons with the saying “No contract, no work.” The union has already voted to give negotiating representatives the power to authorize a strike notice, if they ever feel the move is warranted.
The current contract is set to expire on June 30.