By Bill Grubb
News Editor

ROGERSVILLE - With teams representing the Rogersville Education Association and Rogersville School Board unable to reach an agreement after more than a year of bargaining session the board's team wants to bring another chair to the table.
    The REA has been notified, in writing, that the board's negotiating team is requesting the services of a federal mediator to help iron out a contract.
    "We know that both the REA and the Board have negotiated in good faith for the past 12 months.  We also believe that it is in everyone's best interest to reach an agreement in a timely manner.  To that end, with the firm conviction that we have made reasonable efforts over this past year to reach agreement, I will request the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)," the board's Chief Negotiator William Phillips wrote in a letter dated Feb. 1 and addressed to his REA counterpart Alice Brooks.    
    According to Phillips the mediation service is provided at no cost.
    "It is our hope and belief that a mediator will further facilitate these negotiations," Phillips noted.
    When contacted Wednesday, REA team member Missy Testerman indicated she was not yet aware of the request for mediation.
    A recognition election was held November 5, 2008 with 91 percent of the school's professional staff voting for the association to represent teachers collectively in the bargaining process.
    "REA has existed since the 1980s, but this year we experienced a surge in membership. Many of our members felt as though the time was right to negotiate a professional contract like most other school systems have. Thus, this whole process began," Testerman said in an article following the election.
    Under state law, the REA and school board "shall negotiate in good faith" to develop a contract covering: compensation, grievance procedures, insurance, fringe benefits, working conditions, student discipline procedures, leave and payroll deductions.  The parties may, but are not required, to negotiate other issues.
    Although teachers in the Hawkins County Schools System have had a contract with their board for several years, the city school teachers have never had a negotiated agreement with their board.
    Phillips' letter cites Tennessee Code Annotated 49-5-613 (a), which states either the board of education or the recognized professional employees' organization may, upon written notification to the other, request the services of the federal mediation and conciliation service.
    The FMCS Web site notes "Mediation is a voluntary process, bringing a neutral third-party into a negotiation as a facilitator. It may or may not lead to an agreement between the parties unlike arbitration in which, at its conclusion, a neutral third-party will impose a binding agreement on both parties."
    According to the Web site the mediator will be "as active as necessary to improve the bargaining process."