Jordan Transition Teams Recommend Arbitration

Aug 04, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) After seven months of negotiations, both of the final reports issued on Friday by the asset transition teams for the two new Jordan School Districts recommend arbitration. While the teams select arbitrators to represent them, east side board president Tracy Scott Cowdell says he hopes the teams can still reach an agreement on their own.

"I hope that what the report does is have both sides take a look at what the other side is dealing with and have a better understanding of what's going on the other side and then sit down and just try to work through this issue," Cowdell says.

The report includes provisions allowing the transition teams to enter into an agreement before the arbitrator issues a legally-binding decision on how to divide the current Jordan School District's assets. The terms of the arbitration process are the only area of agreement between the two parties. West side school board president Peggy Jo Kennett says it's good the teams have the option to reach an agreement, but it's unlikely after butting heads repeatedly during the negotiations. Still, she remains optimistic about the district's future.

"We face great budget issues right now, and still lots of growth issues, and it's going to take a few years to work through those," Kennett says. "But I have no doubt that the west side Jordan District will continue to be a great district."

The west side has already taken steps to secure an arbitrator. Under the law, both sides must do so by September 1. The two sides will begin operating as separate districts July 1, 2009.

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