The Santa Barbara Unified School District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association have reached an impasse in their contract negotiations.

The two sides have been unable to reach agreement on wages and hours, and conditions related to special education.

The next stage is mediation.

“The mediator generally meets with the parties in a joint session first and then separates the parties and moves between the two groups in an attempt to resolve the issues and reach an agreement,” the district said in a news release.

The mediator has no authority to force a specific resolution, according to the district.

There is no time limit on the duration of mediation, although most involve at least two sessions, and only the mediator can terminate the mediation and send the parties to the next stage, which is fact-finding, according to the news release. With fact-finding, an independent panel makes recommendations on a settlement.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, then a second impasse could be declared and the district could either impose contract terms or the teachers could engage in a strike.