A March session with a federal mediator was canceled, and no new meeting dates have yet been scheduled by negotiators for the Sandridge Elementary District 172 School Board and teachers union.

Superintendent Diane Dyer-Dawson told the board Wednesday about the cancellation of the March 29 meeting with the mediator.

Sandridge Education Association President Laurel Sons said the meeting with the mediator was canceled because she had an emergency situation with flooding in her home.

As of Friday, no new dates with the federal mediator had been set, according to Janet Zitzer, Illinois Education Association Region 55 UniServ director.

The March meeting was to have been the second time the two sides met with the mediator. The first mediation session was on Feb. 26 and representatives of the two sides reported progress had been made.

When contract negotiations reached an impasse earlier this year both sides agreed to call in a federal mediator to help reach a settlement.

Among the issues still unresolved are salary and the length of teachers' lunch period.

Teachers now are working under the terms of their old contract, which expired in August.

Contract deliberations officially began last May. Both sides have said they are hoping for a multiyear agreement.

In other personnel matters Wednesday, the board approved a resolution and granted tenure status to junior high math teacher Sabrina Cossyleon and second-grade teacher Jamie Staley.

The board also approved the rehiring of all tenured teachers for the fall as well as the following teachers: Thomas Dutton, Rebecca Ginaven, Donna Hirosky, Janet Lofton, Erin O'Quinn, Candice Doty, Alice Miller, Cynthia Rasmussen, Christina Smith and Helen Williams.

The board also approved the re-employment of speech pathologist Marjory O'Connor at an annual salary of $52,650; speech pathologist Joan Elton at a salary of $48,000; social worker Julie Mescher at a salary of $34,978; special education coordinator Andrea Brooks at a salary of $57,000; part-time school psychologist John Larsen at a pay of $315 a day, two days per week; and bookkeeper Robin Boyd at a salary of $37,000.

The board also approved rehiring the breakfast/lunch supervisor, food service assistant, technology coordinator, custodian, several aides and substitute teachers.