The Auburn Teacher's Association and district officials have yet to reach a compromise on a new teachers contract, despite having been through three negotiating sessions with a mediator.

Negotiations began after the latest contract expired June 30. After several meetings held on their own, both parties declared impasse and requested that a state mediator be brought in.

According to Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES labor relation specialist Randy Ray, three sessions have been held so far, the most recent being on March 10. The current mediation process places both parties in separate conference rooms, and the mediator carries issues and proposals back and forth in an attempt to bring the parties to a mutual understanding.

"The first two sessions went pretty well," Ray said. "A lot of issues were brought up and discussed, but the session held last week didn't go as well."

ATA President Sally Jo Widmer could not be reached Tuesday for comment. Ray, who is also serving as the district's chief negotiator, said the two major issues that are being debated are salaries and health insurance. The district is currently asking existing teachers to pay higher fees for their health insurance plans, and is also interested in asking retires, who currently receive free health coverage, to also contribute to health care costs.

"This is the main sticking point," Ray said. "Things are still up in the air, but once we get this settled hopefully the rest will come."

Though no new contract has been agreed upon, under New York State Laws the district is still obligated to honor the previous contract until a new one is negotiated. The district's previous contract negotiation also involved an impasse. In that case, teachers worked without a contract from 1997 to 99. The next mediation session is scheduled for April 26.

Staff writer Ashley Lipsky can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 235 or at ashley.lipsky@lee.net