Christmas break will be December 19-Jan 5; mediation session with union conducted

As the Rogers City Area Schools Board of Education has done each month since September, it was once again asked to extend the school district calendar for another month due to the lack of a negotiated agreement with the Rogers City Educators? Association.

?The recommendation is to extend the school district calendar with school to be in session, both students and staff, on weekdays from Monday, December 1 to 12:15 p.m., December 19,? said superintendent Ed Schultz. ?School will be dismissed for Christmas break, and it will be a long one and go 16 days. School resumes for students and staff on Monday morning, January 5, 2004.?

The board accepted the recommendation.

Schultz said a mediation session was scheduled for Wednesday (yesterday), as contract talks with the teachers continue. The three-year contract expired August 31.

A state appointed mediator from the Michigan Employment Relations Commission has been requested by the district and will be a part of Wednesday?s session.

Negotiations started in the spring, proposals have been exchanged, but the sides remain?far apart,? according to Schultz.

There are two employee groups in Rogers City working without contracts.

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