Unsuccessful negotiations for a new contract with the teachers’ union has forced the Board of Education to ask for an arbitration board to mediate talks.
School Board Chairman Bruce Baker said the board is asking for arbitration because it is at an impasse with the Seymour Education Association for a new teachers’ contract.
The current pact expires at the end of the 2009 – 2010 school year.
Baker said negotiations broke down primarily because of the salary demands.
The chairman said the board cannot afford to increase salaries and wants to maintain current staffing levels.
Seymour Schools cut 12 teacher positions last spring while building the $29.1 million budget, a plan equal to the 2008 – 2009 year plan. Town voters passed that budget last May.
While Baker did not comment on the increase proposed by the teachers union, Baker said the proposed increase was “very high.”
“Anything above zero is too high,” he said. “Look at unemployment (figures). People are losing their jobs and houses. Now is not the time to be asking for increases.”
SEA President Fran Devito could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Baker said he is confident the school board would be successful in arbitration, given the economy.
“Based on the economy, we feel very good about getting a favorable result,” he said.
