Teacher contract negotiations in Geary USD 475 have stretched into the summer this year with no tentative agreement on a final contract.
But Wednesday, the superintendent Dr. Corbin Witt and Junction City Education Association President Cathy Rankin, met to address some communication issues. In a joint press conference they set a positive tone.
Corbin Witt: “We have full confidence in the JCEA negotiations team. We know that they’re trying to represent the members and do what’s right for them.”
Cathy Rankin: “JCEA believes that the Board is bargaining in good faith, and is willing to listen to teachers. And that’s very important to us.”
Corbin Witt: “I feel like that we’re making good headway. I know that we probably, because of miscommunication, gave the impression that we were really really far apart. I’m not sure we’re that as far apart as we would have thought after our discussions.”
Cathy Rankin: “After our discussions today it became clear that the information JCEA was working on contained some inaccuracies. So Dr. Witt and I have clarified those inaccuracies. I think that our discussions from here on out will be much more positive, productive.”
Corbin Witt: “I think probably we prepared some documents that gave some data that was really not as easy to follow than it should have been. And then also there was I think, some things that JCEA didn’t know about as far as our budget, and some of the things that I have been able to share with Cathy today as far as explaining the sustainability of whatever we do. So I think those things, just opening up communications and having those conversations. I think it’s helped us both to see what we’re doing and where we’re going, that trust level that we need to have with one another, and that everything is going to go forward and be a positive conclusion when we’re done.”
Cathy Rankin: After our discussion today I’m not as concerned about sustainability, and I’m not as concerned about a lack of the Board to listen to the teacher side. So I think that we made some real progress, and I think it will be much more positive when we start out on the 14th.”
The next teacher contract negotiating session is scheduled for July 14. The negotiators are working on teacher contracts for the upcoming 2015-16 school year.
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