MORAGA — Teachers and the school district will go into mediation after the union told state officials contract negotiations have stalled over differences on employee health benefits.
California Teachers Association representative Kerry Moriarty filed a request with the state Public Employment Relations Board on May 27 asking the board to declare an impasse in negotiations and appoint a mediator.
The request was approved and the two sides are working on scheduling the first mediation session, said district Superintendent Rick Schafer, adding the district does not agree that negotiations have stalled.
Moriarty was unavailable for comment this week; messages left with Moraga Teachers' Association President Joanne McClellen were not returned.
The district includes elementary and middle schools in Moraga.
At issue is the district's request that teachers pay for a portion of their medical insurance premiums. The union objects to the district's insistence the changes be permanent, according to the request.
"The concessions the association has been willing to accept have been on a year-to-year basis until the fiscal