School district continues union negotiations

Any update, Mr. Sosa? Almost a month has passed since your last story... any movement on the contract negotiations? Are the two sides still a ways apart? Are the unions looking for administrator dollars or more realistic amounts? Is the board stepping up to the plate like they did with the A-team? Thanks for keeping up up-to-date!

Here's a quick heads-up for people following the District 423 labor negotiations. I'm working on a longer story for next Tuesday's paper (Dec. 22), but this is, briefly, where things are at:

• Education Hutchinson, the teachers' union, and the district last met in mid-November. They are hoping to meet again in the coming weeks before a Jan. 15 state deadline.

• Hutchinson Education Support Professionals (members include secretaries, kitchen staff, educational assistants, etc.) are scheduled to go into mediation with the district Jan. 13. School Board Member Tim Kerkvliet said there is no state deadline for a contract settlement with this union, or SEIU Local 284.

• SEIU Local 284, representing district custodians, has been working on contract language. Kerkvliet said they haven't talked financial figures yet. Negotiations are ongoing.

I'll have more details and views from union leaders and the School Board in Tuesday's paper.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com)

Jorge, I was at the middle school on Tuesday and heard a phy. ed teacher say the union and district have reached a tentative agreement. I didn't see anything in Tuesday's print edition and wondered if that was right. I think he said something about being one of the negotiators and that's how he knew. Just checking to see if you can confirm and if there will be a story on Thursday. Thanks Jorge.

Thank you, Jorge.