Teachers likely to begin new school year without a new contract

Clark County educators aren't hopeful that the school district and the teachers union will agree on a new contract any time soon.

The teachers have been working without a contract since June 30. The state legislature failed to appropriate money for raises, so the district says its not in a position to offer them.

"We've got nothing to give," said Assistant Superintendent Edward Goldman, the district's lead negotiator. "The state Legislature didn't appropriate money for teacher pay raises, and we don't have enough money to even cover cost of living increases."

It now appears likely that teachers, principals and school secretaries are headed back to school without a contract to cover 1999-2000 school year.

The discussions have been polite, union representatives said, but no one is even close to a deal. The teachers union and the district continue to meet, but neither side anticipates a resolution.

A contract probably won't be decided until an independent arbitrator hears the case and makes a recommendation, probably later this fall.

All employees are covered by their old contracts until new ones are in place.

But the district budget is not so tight that it can't afford an adjustment for teachers, said John Jasonek, executive director of the Clark County Education Association.

"Our position is that in seven of the last 10 years, the district has given raises that have fallen above or below the level of funding provided by the state," Jasonek said. "The district has the ability to work within its priorities and offer us something."

Jasonek said that in addition to the monetary issues, the education association also is concerned with contract language on special education, year-round schools and class size.

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