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Public forum What : Public forum to discuss issues surrounding the contract dispute between Rogue River's 88 teachers and the school district When : 7 p.m. Monday Where : Valley Rogue Christian Center, 520 E. Main St., Rogue River Who : Parent Teacher Association officer Peggy Moore is putting together the informational program Rogue River contract no nearer School board will talk on Tuesday By VICKI GUARINO ROGUE RIVER -- Focus tightened on money matters Thursday as teachers and school board members faced off in another inconclusive bargaining session. "We did not move closer to a settlement," said teacher-negotiator Celia Schultz, a Rogue River High School counselor. As the session closed for the night, she said teachers have grown exasperated with the pace of negotiations, which began 15 months ago. "This contract is about respect," she said. Board representatives Dave Cunningham and Richard Gertsmar tentatively agreed to some pieces of a proposed three-year contract brought forward by teachers, but told teachers they would have to wait until a board meeting next Tuesday for answers to contract conditions teachers call crucial. Schultz and union negotiator Steve Straughn say teachers are insistent on 2 percent across-the-board raises and continuation of an early retirement program. And they sounded just as insistent in arguing that the school board's pleas of poverty are exaggerated. "You have the money," Schultz told Cunningham and Gertsmar. "You don't want to pay us. How simple can it get?" Schultz said teachers negotiated the early retirement incentive program in 1987, and many have been counting on it for their retirement. Teachers say the plan actually saves the district money on salaries; board members say that by their math, the program is too expensive to continue. Board members argue that the 1,300-student district cannot afford to meet teachers' demands. The board initially sought a wage freeze, but has since offered 1.6 percent raises for all, and 3.35 percent for teachers at specific levels of experience and education. The average Rogue River teacher earns roughly $38,000. "You're a long way away from understanding the board's position," Cunningham said during the public negotiating session. A crowd mostly of teachers wearing turquoise T-shirts filled the Rogue River Middle School library. Contract talks typically are held behind closed doors, but Rogue River board members asked teachers to open the doors so the public could watch the process. Board members were concerned that teachers and the community didn't understand the district's financial position. Board members want to hold the line on wage costs, including what they say is a costly retirement program, because of shrinking funds. Teachers counter that the board leaves about 14 percent of district revenue unspent -- a large proportion of funds compared with other school districts. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA