Published: October 27, 2009 09:18 pm      

District 118, teacher contract talks continue

DANVILLE — Contract talks will continue into next month between Danville District 118 and the Danville Education Association.

The teachers’ union, which also covers other certified staff members in the district including social workers and school nurses, has worked without a new contract since July. The last three-year contract expired June 30.

District officials have said there are no rules that dictate the length of a future contract.

The last contract negotiation between the DEA and the district went into the fall of 2006, but the new contract was signed by the end of August.

For now, members of the teachers’ union are working under the terms of the old contract until a new one is ratified.

The two sides called in a federal mediator for the last negotiation session, which lasted until just after 8 p.m. Monday, according to Superintendent Mark Denman.

Another mediated session will be scheduled for the near future, Denman said.

Robin Twidwell, a teacher at South View Middle School and president of the DEA, said she and other DEA members are hopeful that talks will conclude next week and that a new contract can be signed soon.

Neither Denman nor Twidwell chose to comment on the issues holding up the contract talks.

Neither side addressed whether an intent-to-strike notice could be filed with the Regional Office of Education — a necessary step before a strike takes place, per collective bargaining law.