BY MIKE HELENTHAL
Commercial-News
DANVILLE —
Both sides of the Danville District 118 teacher-contract talks reported progress Tuesday after meeting with a federal mediator for more than four hours.
The two sides have agreed to meet one more time — Sunday at 2 p.m. — before a promised strike vote by the teachers’ union on Monday.
Superintendent Mark Denman and Danville Education Association President Robin Twidwell met the media around 9:15 p.m. following Tuesday’s session to issue a joint statement.
It was the first time the two sides have made a statement together since negotiations started in April.
“Although the parties had a frank discussion, no final resolution was reached,” the statement said.
“We’ve made a little progress this evening,” said Twidwell, a sentiment that was echoed by Denman.
Neither would answer questions about the specifics of the “progress” and said it would be the last statement either would make until Sunday. Both representatives were cordial and smiling following the meeting.
The week of media silence follows a week that featured a flurry of statements and counterstatements about specifics of the contract from both sides, the last coming on the Labor Day holiday.
They still have a host of salary, benefit and language issues to work out, the major stumbling point to this point being a proposed across-the-board freeze pushed by the district.
“Both sides want to work for a fair settlement,” Denman said. “We realize how important a settlement is.”
The superintendent said the school board would release a more-specific plan later this week on what the district would do in the event of a strike — with the hopes a work stoppage would not come to pass.
“We hope not as well,” added Twidwell. “We hope Sunday will be the day.”
District 118’s administration was instructed to prepare the detailed strike-contingency plan for closed-door consideration at tonight’s 6:30 p.m. meeting. Among the issues, whether to continue extra-curricular offerings if school does shut down.
