Last October, the Prince William County School Board approved a collective bargaining resolution. This resolution was amended last December. Negotiations between PWCS and the Prince William Education Association (PWEA) began in April.

PWCS has estimated the costs of the PWEA proposals at $364.4 million. Generally speaking, any request for an expenditure of funds in excess of those currently available to PWCS would have to come either from increased revenues or cuts to services. As it stands, however, PWCS has only estimated the costs of PWEA’s initial proposal, and the parties continue to negotiate over wages and benefits.

PWCS shared a presentation with the PWEA on September 12 that outlines the PWEA proposals and provides cost estimates. The PWEA has declared an impasse with respect to some of their proposals. As provided by the School Board’s resolution, the parties will engage in mediation with the assistance of a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The PWEA has declared an impasse with respect to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of their proposed contract. Those sections of the proposed contract cover the following topics: Association and Board Rights and Responsibilities, Employee Rights, Grievances, Other Terms and Conditions of Employment, and Leaves.