The Albert Lea school board decided in a closed-door meeting Monday night to request a second negotiation session with a mediator in an attempt to reach a compromise on a teacher-pay contract.

“We have a little bit of hope that maybe we can get this taken care of before school starts,” said Bill Villarreal, lead negotiator with the board.

Villarreal said it’s a long shot to complete the deal before school starts, but the board is hopeful an agreement can be reached because the status of about nine teaching positions will rest on an agreement.

Villarreal said the same mediator will oversee the negotiations.

In the meeting Monday night, Villarreal said the board negotiators discussed the progress of the negotiations with the rest of the board, and the decision was made to continue the mediation process.

According to Villarreal, the board request for the mediator’s services listed Aug. 10, 18 and 27 as possible dates, but Villarreal said they will meet on one day.

The two sides last met with the mediator July 30 at Brookside Education Center from 9 a.m. until shortly after 4 p.m. And while the two sides did move closer to an agreement, negotiators with the board and negotiators with the Albert Lea Education Association, the teachers’ union, said it would take more time to reach an agreement.

“I think it might take a while yet,” said ALEA President Jim Munyer. “I’m not sure how long it will take, but the significant issue still is that 403(b) language and the second-year wage situation.”

Villarreal said the main unresolved issues include the 403(b) tax-sheltered annuities, the potential salary freeze and family medical leave.

After the first session with the mediator, Munyer said the teachers were willing to negotiate with the mediator a second time. However, he said the session could be in September.

If neither side requested a second session, it was possible the two sides could look into arbitration, but both sides would have to agree to the terms of that process. That is still possible if an agreement isn’t reached at the next meeting.