After being inspired by speeches from President Dennis Van Roekel, our 2010 teacher of the year, Maryland's governor and others our delegates are returning home this morning.
WEA's President, Marlene Irons, will return home to organize the negotiations team to start mediation with Lynn Trenbeth as mediator. Both teams will sit down with Lynn and list their interests in negotiations. Lynn will look to see where our interests coincide and find an area of cooperation and agreement. The sessions will be starting soon and we hope for a positive result.
OEA's President, Doug Stephens, will be setting up our next negotiations meetings as we return to town.
It is a heat wave here in Northern Washington, 85 degrees, and we are enjoying the time off. We will be back to work Monday.
Rick