At odds over several economic issues, the Pasco County School Board and the United School Employees of Pasco had scheduled an impasse hearing with a special magistrate for April 19.

Suddenly, that meeting is canceled.

"We're still trying to avoid impasse if we can," district employee relations director Kevin Shibley told the Gradebook.

Officials from the district and the USEP have met privately to discuss a possible negotiated contract settlement. No deals have been reached, but "we feel positive things are moving in the right direction," union vice president Frank Roder said.

If the sides cannot reach an agreement, they have set two backup dates -- April 25 and May 4 -- to meet with the hearing officer. Stay tuned.