School district, MHEA agree to seek federal mediation

Friday, June 6, 2014

The Mountain Home School District and the Mountain Home Education Association have mutually agreed to seek federal mediation to resolve differences in the contract negotiations for the coming school year's contract.

State law essentially allows the district to arbitrarily impose a contract by the end of June, and severely restricts what union representatives can negotiate, but mediation is an effort to resolve any outstanding differences without resorting to those measures.

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Hi there - I was just a bit concerned because the comments in the banter box were mostly about if teachers get paid more, or two days or what. I can not speak directly for the negotiators, but as I understand the negotiated points (rather un - negotiated because really after the time frame is over the district - school board and the administration can do whatever they want) were focused more on various contractual language. So though I don't want to be a defeatist ..... negotiations are kind of a moot point.

There are many view points on these issues- have to say I am rather neutral on the subject, but many teachers feel much of the assurances of leave procedures, in particular professional leave, should be in the master contract, rather just in the ever changing, sometimes unpredictable policy manual...

Additionally I do believe there are many teachers who feel like they are not respected as professionals by decision makers at the district level. That is probably the real issue at hand, and it will play out a few different ways - probably won't know until events unfold in the future.

I am a teacher, I am thankful to have a job, I am thankful that the levy passed. Really last year was pretty amazing - and there are some pretty incredible kids right here in Mountain Home. I just wanted to make a point that not everything is about money.

-- Posted by Idahofun on Mon, Jun 9, 2014, at 10:56 PM
Idahofun,

Your point was well made. It will be interesting to see how future events will play out. Hopefully in the near future. Should be interesting. I agree we do have some pretty incredible kids right here in Mountain Home. I think a little qualified leadership at the decision making level would benefit the kids as well as the teachers. Best of luck to you.

-- Posted by dudewheresmycar on Wed, Jun 11, 2014, at 7:40 AM

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