Impasse hearing tomorrow

Third party arbitrator to discuss contracts with teachers union, board of ed.

Friday, Oct. 23, 2009

According to Deputy Superintendent Robin Welsh, the hearing will be at the Holiday Inn Express in Prince Frederick. Joseph Sella, the chief negotiator for the Calvert Education Association, said the hearing is not open to the public and would not give a location, only saying that it is occurring in Maryland.

Calvert Education Association President Debbie Russ said that the hearing will begin early in the morning and last, "as long as it needs to."

This impasse occurred in August when the Calvert Education Association voted to reject a tentative agreement with the Calvert County Board of Education to accept a 0.5-percent salary adjustment for all teachers for 2009-10, instead of the previously contracted 4.5 percent.

The initial agreement was reached when Superintendent of Schools Jack Smith added 90 previously cut positions back to the budget by budgeting for teachers and education support staff personnel to have a 0.5 percent salary adjustment, along with step increases based on longevity.

The Calvert Association of Educational Support Staff voted to accept this modified contract in June.

The 90 positions had initially been cut due to decreased state funding.

Because of the teachers union's rejection, both sides went to impasse, during which a third party arbitrator was chosen to examine both sides and offer a suggestion.

Russ said that M. David Vaughn of the American Arbitration Association was selected to fill the neutral role. The negotiation teams from both sides and Vaughn will all be present at tomorrow's hearing. When asked when Vaughn's final decision would be announced, Sella said, "That's up to the arbitrator."

lbuck@somdnews.com