POPULAR RIDGE - In an attempt to resolve some long-standing issues, the Southern Cayuga Teachers Association and Superintendent Peter Cardamone have been undergoing mediation and talking about how to open up communication.

The parties met for the third time Wednesday evening, although the first two meetings were held to set up the perameters of the mediation. On Wednesday, the two sides began discussion on the issues which havecaused a division within the district over the last year.

The SCTA presented Cardamone with a vote of no confidence in June 2004. According to SCTA President Pat Nunno, the vote came a year after the SCTA approached the school board about opening up the lines of communication.

"It is our hope that the requests and concerns of the association will be recognized and researched and that a resolution can be reached," said Nunno this week.

When the SCTA presented the vote, it stated that there were problems with communication, management, regulation compliance, and professional and ethical practices. All Southern Cayuga teachers belong to the union, and the resolution was approved by 94 percent.

Several members of the public questioned Cardamone at Monday night's meeting, asking what steps were being taken to resolve the issues.

Cardamone said that he was confident that the mediation sessions would help.

After Wednesday night's session, both parties agreed not to comment further on the issue publicly.

"We have agreed it is in the best interest of both parties to resolve the issue first," Cardamone said. "We will be meeting again in the near future, but I can't say any more than that."