Board wants arbiter for issue

AUSTINTOWN — The board of education has asked the teachers union to implement most of a tentative agreement and use binding arbitration for an issue that’s a sticking point.

The Austintown Education Association membership rejected the board’s “last-and-best offer” and a tentative agreement signed by both bargaining teams last month.

The issue is not raises or health-care contributions, but rather the amount of time teachers get to plan lessons and help students between classes.

The union had requested the board go back into negotiations with the help of a mediator Tuesday.

In a reply Thursday, the board indicated it believes more negotiations would not be fruitful.

It proposed the alternative that the union agree to let an arbitrator decide the issue of contract language about planning time. It asked the AEA to agree to implement all other terms and conditions of the tentative agreement.

AEA president Sandy DeCerbo said Thursday that the union’s preference is still to return to mediation and not agree to binding arbitration.

She said, though, that the union leaders will consider the board’s request.

The board has asked for a reply by 4 p.m. Monday. DeCerbo said there should be a response by then.