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Saturday bargaining session possible in teacher talks

JANESVILLE — Negotiators for the Janesville School Board and teachers might be willing to give it another try.

The two sides might meet Saturday, without a mediator, to discuss the 2007-09 contract.

Both sides seemed cautious about raising false hopes about the long-delayed settlement, but it appears they have something to talk about.

Dave Parr, the co-lead negotiator for the teachers, said this morning that the Saturday meeting is not assured. He declined to say more until he had talked to Superintendent Tom Evert.

The latest development comes after a roller-coaster ride on the negotiating trail this week.

The teachers announced Tuesday morning they would not attend a session with a state mediator on Monday.

Later on Tuesday, mediator Marshall Gratz arranged to meet separately with each side on Monday. Those meetings still are scheduled, Parr said.

“The reason we didn’t think mediation was going anywhere was because their offers (during the previous mediation) were going backwards instead of forwards,” Parr said.

But on Wednesday, Parr met with Evert, along with Janesville Education Association President Sam Loizzo. That meeting and the school board’s own closed meeting on Thursday led to the Saturday meeting.

Evert and Parr talked Thursday night after the school board met, setting the stage for Saturday.

Evert had something new to offer, and “we’ve always been willing to listen to anything they’ve said,” Parr said.

Parr said it appeared the school board was willing to compromise on its formula for setting health-insurance premiums that teachers would pay.

Evert’s ideas contained potential for a voluntary settlement, which is the teachers’ goal, Parr said.

Evert stopped short of saying the board has a new offer, and he said the board still wants all teachers to pay some part of their premiums.

“I think it’s an excellent idea and time for both teams to meet and review offers and proposals,” Evert said of the Saturday meeting. “Hopefully there will be new ideas on ways to move the process forward.”