MARYSVILLE — After a three-month lull, the Marysville School District is ready to resume contract talks with its teachers, and is hoping for a quick settlement.
The Marysville School Board met behind closed doors for two hours Friday to discuss bargaining issues. Afterward, the district announced that it was ready to begin negotiating.
"They’re ready to meet," school district spokeswoman Judy Parker said.
Just when the talks begin depends on the availability of a state mediator, she said.
"There might be some light at the end of the tunnel," said Elaine Hanson, president of the 650-member Marysville Education Association. "I’m happy we’re getting back to the bargaining table."
Both the board and the teachers will enter the talks feeling the battle scars of last fall’s 49-day teachers strike, the longest in state history. However, the school board has changed dramatically since then. Three incumbents lost their re-election bids in November, and their replacements had strong backing from the teachers union.
Also, a campaign has been started to recall the two remaining incumbents, Helen Mount and Ron Young.
At the same time, the new board is in the preliminary stages of discussions that could end school district Superintendent Linda Whitehead’s tenure. The board will meet in executive session again on Monday to talk about her contract, which has 21/2 years remaining on it and could require a buyout.
Michael Kundu, one of the new board members, said he wants to see a teachers contract reached quickly — within a month, if possible — for the sake of the entire community.
"The ratification will be a step toward closure," he said.
"That might be a whisker optimistic, but we are still trying to operate on his suggestion," said Paul Sjunnesen, a consultant to the board who was hired in part to help the district settle the teachers contract. "I think there is great anticipation and desire to have the contract settled."
During their campaigns, Kundu and the other new board members, Carol Jason and Vicki Gates, indicated a willingness to drop one of the district’s previous demands, which was to switch the teachers to a state salary schedule instead of a locally bargained one for that part of their salary that comes from state funds.
District officials on Friday said they would not discuss the terms they intend to offer the teachers union.
The district’s finances have been hard hit since the school board adopted its $82.25 million budget in August. A sharp drop in enrollment over the past year caused by the slumping economy and the strike cost the district $2 million in state funding, cutting roughly in half the district’s reserves.
Sjunnesen said he will meet with district employees ranging from school principals to union leaders next week to provide details of the district’s financial condition.
Hanson said the teachers understand that there is not the money there once was. But she said she will have more trust in the figures the district presents due to the presence of the three new board members and Sjunnesen.
"I have always said we are not out to break the bank," Hanson said. "We are just looking for a fair contract for our members."
Sjunnesen said he hopes the district gets the same mediator, Vincent Helm, who was involved in the talks last fall, because Helm is already familiar with the issues.
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