Teacher Negotiations To Arbitrators

David Deskins, Archbold Area School District superintendent, said Monday he has been officially notified by the State of Ohio Employment Relations Board that the Archbold Education Association has asked for fact-finding.

The Archbold Education Association, or AEA, represents the district's teachers and professional staff.

Under fact-finding, an arbitrator or panel of arbitrators hears both sides of a contract dispute, and then makes recommendations about the issues. The two sides are not required to accept the results of fact-finding.

Deskins said the school board and the AEA are negotiating over a list of arbitrators provided by SERB.

The board and the AEA have been negotiating salaries and benefits for the professional staff as part of a reopener clause in the master agreement between the two sides.

Negotiations began in April 2007, but were suspended over the summer months.

Deskins said it has been suggested to him the fact-finding process could take 60 to 90 days.

"There's no definitive way to know the exact amount of time," he said.

"The board remains interested in trying to find a resolution to the situation," Deskins said.