Since the contract settlement, however, the mood has shifted to resignation.

The union and board reached a new contract settlement without acrimony for 2007-2010.

Another element, yet to be factored in, is the recent contract settlement for the building workers' union.

The teachers union had warned of a strike if a contract settlement was not reached by midnight Thursday.

What made it seem especially worthless was that the two sides were not really far apart on the economics of a contract settlement.

Based on 1993-94 contract settlements in about 60 school districts, he said, the average superintendent's salary is $88,658.

And, he said, a contract settlement for employees is "getting closer all the time."

Moreover, it noted that the county had failed for four years to reach a contract settlement with the union.

No one at the Met would discuss details of his contract settlement.

The most obvious is to hold down costs of the contract settlement currently under negotiation.