Teachers frustrated with negotiations

As contract negotiations continue teachers in the Carson City School District are becoming frustrated.

"I am dismayed to have to report to you that the morale of teachers in this district is low, and the mood is angry," Jeff Greb, president of the Ormsby County Educators Association told Carson City School Board members. "As we see more and more districts around the state reach contract settlements with their teachers, we wonder once again why teachers in the state's capital are being left behind."

In Nevada, 12 of the 17 school districts have settled contracts with their teachers. Eleven of them granted salary increases. White Pine County did not.

Of the five districts still negotiating, Carson City is the only one not offering a raise.

"We feel like the district has other priorities other than salaries," Greb said. "We'd like to change that formula."

He said a major obstacle is the method the district uses to reach a compromise. Representatives from the teachers association bargain with a lawyer, who in turn speaks with school board members.

He said he has never been told what the board is spending the money on instead of salaries.

"We have no intelligent way to discuss it," Greb said.

In an effort to include teachers in the process of deciding the budget, district officials invited them to attend hearings where expenditures are determined.

"Hopefully, that will lead to a real dialog but we haven't had that conversation yet so I don't know if it will," Greb said.

Contract negotiations began before the end of last school year and a mediator proved to be futile.

Binding arbitration is scheduled April 5-6, where a third party will listen to both sides, then choose one.

"It's not preferable because somebody's got to lose," Greb said. "Nobody wants to go that far, but I think it may have to. We're that far apart."

Superintendent Mary Pierczynski said district officials would like to grant salary increases but cannot.

"Certainly the board and the administration feel that the employees deserve a raise," she said. "Every school district's financial situation is different. Over the past two years we have given raises when other districts did not."

Greb said it is not enough.

"Saying you want to raise salaries and doing it are two different things," he said. "Fifteen out of 17 districts haven't 'said' they want to give a raise, they've done it or offered it."

Contact Teri Vance at tvance@nevadaappeal.com or at 881-1272.