EASTSIDE, DRIVERS GO TO FACT-FINDING.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Eastside Union School District and its bus drivers union have failed to resolve a dispute over whether the district can hire a private company to bus pupils to and from school. A mediator mediator n. a person who conducts mediation. A mediator is usually a lawyer, or retired judge, but can be a non-attorney specialist in the subject matter (like child custody) who tries to bring people and their disputes to early resolution through a conference. was unable to resolve the impasse im·passe n. 1. A road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac. 2. A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate: reached an impasse in the negotiations. , moving the negotiations to the next phase of fact-finding in which a state arbitrator arbitrator n. one who conducts an arbitration, and serves as a judge who conducts a "mini-trial," somewhat less formally than a court trial. In most cases the arbitraror is an attorney, either alone or as part of a panel. will be called in, district officials said. ``My understanding is what they will look at is if we have the financial basis to contract out,'' Assistant Superintendent Assistant Superintendent, or Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), was a rank used by police forces in the British Empire. It was usually the lowest rank that could be held by a European officer, most of whom joined the police at this rank. Mike Wagenleitner said. The district wants to hire a private firm to provide school bus service, which officials say could save the district about $125,000 a year. The proposed move was aimed at helping whittle down Verb 1. whittle down - cut away in small pieces wear away, whittle away damage - inflict damage upon; "The snow damaged the roof"; "She damaged the car when she hit the tree" a projected shortfall of more than $700,000 at the end of this school year. The district has asked firms to submit bids, but has held off making a decision pending the outcome of negotiations. The union representing the bus drivers and mechanics disputes whether the district has the authority under the union contract to hire a private firm, Wagenleitner said. Union representatives could not be reached Monday for comment. The mediator met with both sides last week and declared an intention to certify cer·ti·fy v. cer·ti·fied, cer·ti·fy·ing, cer·ti·fies v.tr. 1. a. To confirm formally as true, accurate, or genuine. b. the talks for fact-finding, Wagenleitner said. Once fact-finding is declared, both sides must agree upon an arbitrator from a list provided by the state Public Employment Relations Board, Wagenleitner said. Representatives from the district and the union will then meet with the arbitrator. Eastside has operated its own school bus service for about 13 years and employs 20 bus drivers and two mechanics. The buses transport about 1,500 students daily. About 30 to 40 employees and parents protested at a board meeting in the spring against contracting with an outside company. They said their children would not know their bus drivers and that such firms do not have stellar safety records. Previous cuts made by the district include returning to all-day kindergarten, limiting the number of students who ride buses to school and reducing classroom cleanings to save $256,000. Eastside previously had an all-day kindergarten program but switched in the mid-1990s to half-day sessions when the schools became overcrowded o·ver·crowd v. o·ver·crowd·ed, o·ver·crowd·ing, o·ver·crowds v.tr. To cause to be excessively crowded: a system of consolidation that only overcrowded the classrooms. . |
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