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LA School Report has learned that LAUSD has filed a “declaration of impasse” in their negotiations with UTLA over teacher evaluations, and as a result the negotiations have gone to mediation with the Public Employee Relations Board.

The “impasse” declaration was filed more than a couple of weeks ago, according to LAUSD Chief Labor and Employment Counsel Alex Molina, although he declined to provide a specific date or comment on how the process was going. “The mediator is not allowing parties to speak about mediation process,” said Molina.

According to an inside source who did not wish to be named, the move is “a leverage decision [on the part of LAUSD]. It makes UTLA look like foot-draggers.” However, Molina describes the move as perfectly normal: “The court had ordered that parties partake in such a process if necessary to reach agreement.”

Previous posts: Week-Long Disappearing Act for Zimmer Resolution, Concerns About Teacher Talks, Teacher Evaluation Debate Deadline.