JEFFERSON TWP — The UniServ negotiator who made the teachers' case before a three-person nonbinding arbitration panel Monday night agreed with South Butler School Board negotiator Tom Breth that the panel of arbitrators is experienced and knowledgeable enough to smooth out the four-year stalemate between the two sides.

“If anyone can get it done, they can,” Brooke Witt said Tuesday morning.

The panel includes one person from the school board's side, one from the teachers' side and a neutral, state-certified arbitrator.

In the South Butler case, longtime attorney and solicitor for many county school districts, Tom King, is the arbitrator representing the board's side.

Pat Andrekovich, an experienced UniServ negotiator in the county who represents the Butler School District, is the arbitrator for the South Butler Education Association.

Pittsburgh attorney David Breen is the neutral arbitrator, and both Witt and Breth have stated his expertise in the education field.

Witt said if, during the talks, the arbitrators have questions, King or Andrekovich will approach Breth or herself.

But because of the panel's knowledge of contract situations and the local education market in general, she expects little of that.

“(King and Andrekovich) working with Breen will mean less of a need to come back to us,” Witt said.

Once the panel creates a report, the arbitrators from each side will bring it to the teachers and school board to ensure there are no surprises in the report that would “sink the ship,” Witt said.

If the arbitrators take the entire 20 days they are allotted to create the report, Witt said the teachers will likely vote on the deal between June 10 and 15, which is the last day of school.

“The teachers sure would like for it to be done,” Witt said.

She, like Breth, would not make a prediction on the report or the likelihood that it will be accepted by their side.

“Every one of these arbitrations goes a little bit different,” Witt said.