Negotiations sputter as Norton teachers contract is set to expire

The Norton City School District Board of Education and teachers union are engaged in difficult contract talks that won't be resolved before the current three-year pact ends Sunday.

Talks began at the start of May with negotiators at the most recent session failing to reach a consensus, said Amber Wheatley, president of the Norton Classroom Teachers Association. The NCTA is an Ohio Education Association local affiliate and represents about 150 teachers and certified personnel.

More than half of the NCTA's members attended a board meeting Monday, with a handful addressing the board on aspects of the negotiations. Many carried signs provided by the union calling for a "Fair Contract Now!"

Norton teachers face 'working without a contract'

Rod Rowell, a STEM teacher who has been with the district 28 years, said at the meeting that members of the board negotiating team prematurely left talks May 31.

"In just a few days, NCTA members will be working without a contract," he said.

More: Springfield teachers, school administrators reach tentative agreement on 2-year contract

Teacher Chuck Kaufman, an NCTA member, said distrust and resentment had grown during the talks and called for respect between negotiators.

"It starts with sitting down with us and getting it done," he said.

Biggest remaining issues are 'teacher salary and salary schedule'

In an emailed statement Wednesday, Board of Education President Jennifer Bennett said the district is negotiating with financial constraints that limit what can be offered, drawing the line at a contract that would force job and program cuts or levy increases.

“The biggest issue remaining is the teacher salary and salary schedule," Bennett said. "The Norton Board of Education has great respect and appreciation for our teachers and wants to pay teachers as much as we canresponsibly afford. However, the Board will not agree to teacher salary increases that would require the Board to cut important programs, lay off teachers, or require dramatic tax increases for our citizens to pay for the increases."

Wheatley declined to talk about contract specifics following the meeting on Monday, but said NCTA members had expected further progress in the negotiations.

"I'm disappointed, but I'm not worried, yet," she said.

She said she believes the two parties could have reached a solution to remaining issues by this point in the process. The parties have had four sessions so far, Wheatley said.

"We're going to have to meet in the middle on some things," she said.

The next bargaining session takes place July 12.

Contract issues take a toll in district, teacher says

In Wednesday's statement, Bennett said the board is committed to an agreement that is fair to both teachers and the Norton schools community.

"However, it is important to note that the reason an agreement has not yet been reached is that the teachers’ financial expectations exceed what the Board can responsibly do,” she said.

Rowell said contract concerns have already had a negative impact in the district.

"People like to teach here," he said. "We like the community, we like the students. (But) we are losing teachers because of the issues in the contract."

More: Parents miffed that in-class choice removed from Norton district’s return-to-school plans

Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at www.facebook.com/alan.newsman.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Negotiations sputter as Norton teachers contract is set to expire