MIAMI -- The union representing Miami-Dade's school teachers have declared impasse with Miami Dade Public Schools district, in its attempt to save their raises from budget cuts.

“We have been at the table five times at this point,” said United Teachers of Dade President Karen Aronowitz. “No suggestion by the teachers has been accepted, no budget has been presented to us.”

District officials have already slashed two thousand jobs, downsized magnet and gifted programs and cut a third of the administration. The cut in state funding allowed the district to renegotiate the collective $72 million in teacher raises.

“To get to $72 million, we have to go into things that are very important to children, said Ofelia San Pedro, Assistant Superintendent for Business Operations. “Eighty percent of our budget is in schools – any further cuts will be in schools.”

Under an impasse, a special master from the Public Employees Relations Commission will hear the evidence and issue a non-binding opinion.

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Read Glenna Milberg's take on the impasse, by clicking on her blog link in the photo in this story's sidebar.