JEFFERSON TWP — The South Butler School District solicitor and the state education association negotiator on Monday night detailed their respective issues before a three-person panel of arbitrators.

The non-binding arbitration session began at 11 a.m. on Monday and ended at 7 p.m.

The arbitration comes after a teachers strike and continuing stalemate between the school district and its teachers. The teachers have been working under the terms of the last contract, which expired in 2014.

District solicitor Tom Breth, who is the school board's negotiator, said both sides gave their thorough and detailed positions on the issues causing the stalemate as well as their “final best” offers.

Breth said he and PSEA negotiator Brooke Witt asked many questions during the long arbitration session.

“We are all hoping the arbitration panel is going to put something together that both sides will approve,” Breth said. “Both sides want to get it done.”

The panel is made up of attorney Tom King representing the school board, UniServ representative Pat Andrekovich for the teachers and Pittsburgh attorney David Breen, who is a state-certified arbitrator.

“They are very knowledgeable and experienced folks,” Breth said.

Breth said the arbitrators will meet privately to discuss the issues, and the two arbitrators who represent the school board and teachers, respectively, will discuss the arbitration with the teachers or school board.

The arbitrators then have 20 days to come up with a report.

If that report is approved by both sides, it will serve as the basis for a new contract, Breth explained.

He said if the arbitrators take the full 20 days, the board would likely vote on the report at their Wednesday, June 13 meeting.

Witt could not be reached for comment on Monday evening.