FPS Superintendent Hopeful Deal Can Be Reached In Contract Negotiations

By Gordon HopkinsNegotiations between the Fairbury Public Schools Board of Education (BOE) and the Federal Education Association (FEA) have reportedly become tense. However, FPS Superintendent Dr. Devin Embray remains optimistic that a deal can be worked out. FJN asked Embray about the state of negotiations. He responded on Friday, February 28, “They are still on going but I am hopeful the board and the FEA are close to settling.”A t a meeting on Monday, February 10, Embray gave an update to the school board. He noted that several offers and counter offers had been made but none had been accepted. The primary sticking point, according to Embray, is Paid Time Off (PTO). Board President Angie Judd indicate that the school’s legal counsel needed to become involved in negotiations.“One of the things that I think that has led us to this point is that the tone that’s happening during negotiations between FEA negotiators and the board,” said Judd. “The first three meetings really escalated to become very unprofessional, and so, at that point, that’s really why we decided that legal counsel, it was time.”“I think what’s happening, just in my perspective, is that it’s not personal. We’re required by law to negotiate, and I feel like just because it’s a small community, and we find ourselves in so many different ways outside of this, things start to be personal, and I think hopefully moving forward, we can figure out a way to realize that the committee is disagreeing with FEA, it doesn’t mean we don’t value their opinion. It doesn’t mean we don’t value them as teachers. It just means we disagree, and we’re coming from the perspective of the board and what is good for the district, what is best practice moving forward, and what we need to see happen,” said Judd. “Our legal counsel is handling negotiations because we were trying, in good faith, to remove that personal out of it.”“We can’t continue having negotiations every year,” said Judd. “That seem to turn pretty tense at times.”“It’s looking like it’s going to go to force mediation and resolution at this point,” said Emrbay at the meeting. “I don’t think it’s in the best interest of either side to get that part.” On Monday, March 3, however, Emrbay seemed more optimistic. He told FJN, “While that is always a possibility when in negotiations, we have not gotten to that point and are very close to settling from what I understand from both the BOE and FEA.”

Local Firefighters Instrumental In Battling Custer County Fires

Jefferson County Anticipates Near 100 Percent Broadband Coverage

Related Articles

Praise and Pancakes

Shamrock Shuffle

Odell Resident Recognizes Bitcoin Message As ‘Smishing’ Scam

Steele City Holds Meeting on Water Main Project