KATV Channel 7 - The Spirit of Arkansas: PCSSD Board and Union Still Deadlocked

PCSSD Board and Union Still Deadlocked

LITTLE ROCK - An emergency meeting was called by the Pulaski County School Board around noon Thursday to take place at 5:00 p.m., but was canceled at 5:15 p.m. because not enough board members could attend on such short notice.

Without another meeting--and after court-ordered mediation Wednesday failed to produce any progress in ongoing contract negotiations--the Board's vice president says they have the authority to make a unilateral decision.

"In the end, if we reach no agreement we can simply vote," said Charlie Wood.

The Board's attorney, Lyle Zuckerman, says there is another route to settle the issue.

"The personnel policies that the Board has approved already; they have ten days to review them.  We expect they'll give us some sort of comments one way or the other and that there'll be a vote of the teachers prior to the school year."

Meanwhile, some parents have shown frustration as the new school year quickly approaches.

"They should have been able to come to a closure," said Dana Jackson of Little Rock, "because, after all, it should be about our children; it should be about their education.  The kids come to school and they see all of this going on, they see the picket signs out there."

Jenny Harrison of Jacksonville said, "We're kind of afraid that there may be another strike, and I know last year when they did that strike it was very scary."

Still others have shown more faith in the negotiation process.  Kenesha Scott of Little Rock said, "I know the teachers over here and the teachers my son just left.  They're going to show up every day and do what needs to be done even if they don't give them what they want.  It's just something that's got to get done."

At least 51% of all district teachers, not just those in the union, must approve the creation of a Personnel Policies Committee for it to be legally formed.

Union representatives did not return multiple calls from Channel 7 News Thursday for comment on the proposal.

Students report to class August 19th.