The Wichita Eagle Valley Center teachers are the only teachers in Sedgwick County working without a new contract. They're being paid based on last year's contracts because they've been unable to reach an agreement with the school board.
Salaries are the main sticking point.
The teachers team sought a 3 percent salary increase. An impasse was declared early on, and a federal mediator was called in. The fact-finder, who was appointed just this week, will work with the negotiators to schedule a hearing, said board president Virginia Boyd, who is on the negotiating team. After the hearing, the fact-finder issues a nonbinding report. The fact-finder could recommend a compromise or could side with the board or the teachers.