Negotiations progress as Denver teachers strike enters third day

By Clyde Hughes
Share with X

Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Negotiations to end the teachers strike in Denver lasted late into Tuesday night but produced no resolution, putting the walkout into its third day.

Although no deal was reached, both sides said they saw a path to ending the stalemate.

Negotiations ended about 11 p.m. between Denver Public School officials and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. The 12-hour negotiations showed progress for a new compensation deal for the teachers.

"We exchanged proposals that are moving us closer and are hopeful that we will get to an agreement soon," Superintendent Susana Cordova and union President Henry Roman said in a joint statement.

"However, we need a little more time to resolve the outstanding issues, and we will resume our negotiations" Wednesday.

Both sides huddled privately for most of Tuesday, going over proposals sent by the other side and adjusting their own offerings, the Denver Post reported.

The district offered other opportunities for teachers to move up the pay scale with college credit attainment, staying in the district for 10 years, while finishing professional development units and some teacher certifications.

Some striking educators returned to teach Tuesday, but the district said teacher attendance was comparable to the previous day's 56 percent, Chalkbeat reported. Union officials said the district's numbers were low and that "even more educators" went to picket lines on Tuesday.

During the walkout, a student journalist at one Denver high school accused the principal of threatening him for sharing video and information related to the strike with news media.

Toby Lichenwalter, 17, an executive producer of the school's broadcast team, told the Denver Post the principal told him he'd have to leave school if he shared more information with reporters.

The principal denied the threat to expel, but said he told students they were acting as agents of media by sending out information.

Denver teachers began the city's first strike in 25 years Monday after negotiations broke down. About 2,000 teachers didn't report for work in hopes to win a new contract. All schools are open, with substitutes filling in.

Latest Headlines