LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County School District wants the courts to step to keep thousands of Las Vegas school teachers on the job.
As Gov. Steve Sisolak congratulated Nevada's Teacher of The Year Monday morning he also weighed in again on a less celebratory matter; a strike deadline now less than two weeks away in Clark County.
"We've got 13 more days, and I hope we can get things done, “said Governor Sisolak. “As I said all along the strike is not an option."
PREVIOUS STORY: Teachers union responds to CCSD negotiations, Gov. Sisolak comments
Clark County School District leaders took the same stance saying the law requires mediation when both sides can't reach an agreement. The district sent out a news release late Monday that said in part,
“With parents and guardians on high alert, this afternoon, the Clark County School District filed a request for an injunction with the courts to stop a crippling strike that would be devastating to the academic outcomes and economy of the entire state of Nevada."
The Clark County Education Association fired back with a release sent out shortly after negotiations ended for the evening that read in part,
"During negotiations today CCSD continued to bargain in bad faith by proposing to abolish the entire compensation system for 18,800 educators. Under Superintendent Jara the district is now sending a clear message he does not value educators."
The district said its current offer on the table provides a three percent raise, step increase and more toward health insurance.
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But the union said the district is failing to honor promises to pay for the professional growth system which is an increase in pay some teachers get for completing higher levels of training.
CCEA has agreed to the services of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Services but also maintained the strike is still on the table. The union said the Nevada law making them illegal is unconstitutional and they would challenge it all the way to the Nevada Supreme court.
