Cary Dist. 26, union agree to mediator

Negotiation teams for Cary Elementary District 26 and the teachers union have agreed to retain a federal mediator to help reach a new contract agreement.

The two sides have met 11 times since November. Although negotiations are held behind closed doors, the district has publicly asked the teachers union to meet a request for $2.5 million in concessions to help the district save about $3.2 million in the 2012 fiscal year.

School board President Christopher Spoerl said a federal mediator, who is provided free, would be useful under the circumstances. The two sides will meet for the first time with the mediator on Tuesday.

“Getting a negotiations professional is a positive step given the nature of what we are asking,” Spoerl said. “We understand we are asking an awful lot of the union, and a negotiator would be helpful.”

Spoerl said the district is not looking to take money out of teachers’ pockets, but is asking for cost savings through items such as insurance or other third parties.

Representatives from the Cary Education Association did not return calls for comment Friday.

Administrators and the school board have also proposed closing another school if concessions are not met. That decision could come at the May 2 board meeting. In March, the district approved laying off about 20 full-time positions.

The cuts are part of the district’s plan to trim at least $5.5 million from its budget over the next four years.