Still no deal for P'burg teachers Monroe joins trend of 80-minute classes Friday, February 23, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Four and a half hours of contract negotiations between a state mediator, Phillipsburg teachers and school board members failed to produce a settlement Tuesday night. The next mediation session is set for March 8. "The process started," is all Superintendent Gordon Pethick would say about the mediation session. Pethick said he was hesitant of breaking any confidentiality of the sessions. But school board personnel committee chairman Kevin DeGerolamo said there's not much to discuss. Most of the time was spent getting the state-appointed mediator "up to speed" and "laying the groundwork" for future discussions. "Both sides have their sticking points going in," he said. "The mediator talked to both sides individually about what they're looking to get or not get. When he comes back, we'll go into more detail." The two sides did not meet face to face. DeGerolamo said he did not know what the protocol of the next meeting would be. "I think it was time well spent to discuss certain issues," Pethick said of the initial meeting. Teachers have been without a contract since last summer. Two weeks ago, the union held its first picket in front of the Early Childhood Learning Center. Issues holding up the new deal include length of work day, salary increases and health insurance. The district wants teachers to pay into their premiums. Teachers call that a deal-breaker. Union president Barbara English did not return several calls seeking comment. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used by NJ.com with permission.