NORWICH – Norwich teachers have been working under an expired contract for more than a year and a half, and the president of the local teachers’ union is concerned that it could be several more months before a new agreement is reached. The district shares that concern.

The protracted negotiations between the Norwich City School District and the Norwich Educators Organization hit another snag this month, when the parties failed to reach an agreement in mediation.

“At this point it is starting to hurt people (financially),” said Dr. Bruce Race, president of the Norwich Educators Organization.

It is not just the teachers, but the district as well, that would like to see an agreement in place.

“The district needs a contract with the teachers,” said Superintendent Gerard O’Sullivan.

But after three sessions with Cliff Dunn, the state-approved mediator who helped the district and the school support staff union reach an agreement earlier this year, the parties were still unable to reach mutually agreeable terms.

Percentage increases in salary, employee health care contributions and the proposed reallocation of a portion of unassigned/preparation time in the high school are the main sticking points.

Further complicating matters is the current economic situation, and the anticipation of cuts in state education aid.

That economic climate is much different today than when negotiations began nearly two years ago, said O’Sullivan.

The offer the district had put on the table was a 4.25 percent salary increase with a total increase in the employee health care contribution of 5 percent over the five year life of the contract. Retirees would receive a $3,000 lump sum payment to cover health care premiums until they turned 65. But part of the deal was that high school teachers would need to give up 40 minutes of the 120 they currently have as unassigned/prep time. Instead, they would use that time for additional duties like monitoring study halls and lunchrooms.

According to Race, this last item was the deal breaker. The NEO president said the union was willing to accept the reallocation, but not if it was an additional teaching contact point. The state requires at least 5, they are already teaching 6 at the high school, he said. Adding a seventh would require the union’s approval, something he is not willing to give at this point.