Vegas-area schools declare impasse with teachers
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas-area school administrators are declaring an impasse in contract negotiations with the union representing teachers.
In a news release, the Clark County School District characterized the move as "inevitable" to getting a third-party arbitrator involved in binding talks with the Clark County Education Association.
District spokeswoman Amanda Fulkerson says efforts to schedule negotiations fell through, and administrators want a contract in place before students return in late August for the 2012-2013 school year.
Officials announced this month that more than 400 employees face layoffs in an effort to cut more than 1,000 teaching positions and ease a $59 million budget shortfall.
The district has about 18,000 teachers and more than 300,000 students.
Administrators wanted to feeze pay, but an arbitrator ruled that teachers should get scheduled raises.
