PCSSD meets with PACT to negotiate budget | News

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- The Pulaski County School District (PCSSD) met with the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT) today in regards to the district being placed on fiscal distress, again. 

According to Deborah Roush with the PCSSD, when they were placed into fiscal distress, they had to find a way to save $14 million from next year's budget.

Roush tells Today's THV that they were able to trim $7 million from various expenses, but 80 percent of their budget is for personnel. Therefore, they feel the other $7 million needs to come from there.

PCSSD notified PACT that they wanted to negotiate changes in teacher contracts, and to trim some perks they're receiving while the majority of other Arkansas schoolteachers are not.

PACT told PCSSD they were only willing to discuss raises and benefits. They say their contract only allows them to negotiate these.

In the meeting today, PACT offered to forego their automatic two percent pay raise for next year. They were also willing to discuss their medical benefit structure. However, Roush says that is paid for by the state.

In the meeting today, the school district made negotiations to not spend any more money next year, rather than trim any.

Roush says this is the first step in the negotiation process.

Today's THV will continue to keep you posted as more meetings are held.