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Teachers, board go at it again Contract negotiations might be open to public this time By VICKI GUARINO Rogue River teachers and school board members try again today to talk out a contract dispute, while the countdown to a strike or a board-mandated contract continues. Board Chairman Dave Cunningham Monday deflected speculation that the district is about to make major concessions to its 80 teachers. "The board has moved," Cunningham said, referring to offers made in the past several weeks. "We're bending over backwards to make this work." But he said board members resented what appeared to be an effort by teachers' negotiator Steve Straughn to "stampede" the board into a deal. Straughn had said publicly last week that he took Cunningham's invitation to meet today to be a sign of "a major change" in the board's position. Straughn said teachers haven't altered their demand for a 2 percent raise, and an additional 3.35 percent raise for teachers advancing to specific levels of education and experience. The board offered the 3.35 percent raise for career advancement, but rejected the demand of raises for all teachers because it would cost the district too much money. On Monday, the board met in executive session and drafted a new offer, the details of which Cunningham declined to discuss. The offer is the next formal step in the contract process -- the "final offer." The board is required by law to make such an offer -- which will be forwarded to the state Labor Department -- in response to teachers declaring talks at an impasse, Cunningham said. Teachers could accept the offer, or, eventually, the board could implement the contract on its own, without teachers' agreement, Cunningham said. Teachers, meanwhile, retain the right to vote to strike. Despite the label "final," Cunningham said Monday's offer is not the board's final word on teacher pay. "It's final in name only," he said. "We can still negotiate. It's not the end of negotiations." He said board members hope to better explain the district's finances to teachers. The district has been spending an ever-dwindling cash reserve to fund programs -- essentially spending more money than received in state support. Negotiations begin at 5 p.m. in the Rogue River Middle School. Unlike earlier talks, this session may be public. Cunningham said the board wants the meeting to be open to the public so that staff and parents can hear the issues for themselves. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA