Negotiations Mediation

The Blaine County School District Board of Trustees held a negotiations mediation session on July 17, 2026, facilitated by a federal mediation commissioner from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS). The mediation focused on labor negotiations involving certified staff, specifically discussing salary and benefit cost calculations. The parties reviewed differing methods of calculating total compensation costs based on full-time equivalent (FTE) counts and headcounts, clarifying discrepancies between previously presented figures. The total cost discussed was approximately $414,748 including benefits, with a $50,000 contribution from the professional development fund. No final agreement was reached during this session, but the board indicated a last best offer would be presented for consideration at a future meeting. The mediation process emphasized confidentiality and neutrality, with parties moving between joint and executive sessions to facilitate discussions.