Negotiations between Portland Schools teachers and the school district continued on Tuesday, as students entered their fourth consecutive day without classes. The teachers' strike, which began last Wednesday, shows no signs of an immediate resolution.

The main obstacle to reaching an agreement lies in the absence of a mediator. If the two sides fail to reach a resolution on Tuesday, they may not be able to reconvene until Friday. This is due to the mediator from the Employment Labor Relations Board, who has been overseeing the negotiations, being occupied with other work commitments on Wednesday and Thursday.

As a result, students may not be able to return to class until Monday or later, effectively missing a minimum of seven school days. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the district has asked Governor Tina Kotek for assistance in identifying a temporary mediator so that talks can continue. At this time, it is unclear whether negotiations would proceed without a mediator present.

In response to the district's request, Elisabeth Shepherd, a spokesperson for Governor Kotek, stated that the governor's office is actively working to ensure the availability of a mediator for Wednesday and Thursday.

In the interim, both sides have planned a meeting with Kate Nass, the chief financial officer for the Department of Administrative Services, and her staff members. They aim to clarify the district's financial situation, as it has been a significant point of contention. The district claims that there is a $220 million gap between the union's demands and the available funds over the next three years. However, the Portland Association of Teachers has raised doubts about the accuracy of these calculations, questioning the district's failure to consider its rainy day fund and alleged bloat in the central office.

As negotiations continue, it remains uncertain whether progress will be made on the key issues under discussion, such as cost of living adjustments, workload relief, class sizes, and health and safety conditions within schools.

In a related development, two other school district unions - SEIU Local 503 and the Portland Federation of Schools Professionals - have also requested state mediators to oversee their contract talks. The unions represent custodians, cafeteria workers, classroom aides, paraeducators, administrative assistants, and others. While the outcomes of these negotiations remain to be seen, it highlights the broader dissatisfaction among various educational staff within the Portland school district.

The impact of the ongoing teacher strike continues to disrupt the education system in Portland, as students, families, and educators anxiously await a resolution to the conflict.