The parties may agree upon the appointment of a mediator. If the parties fail to agree upon the appointment of a mediator within ten (10) days of the date of submission of a proposal for appointment by either party, pursuant to § 707.4, either party may request the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service or Board of Labor Relations to appoint a mediator.
A mediator appointed or mutually designated pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be experienced in the mediation of urban government and public school matters.
The format, date, time, and location of each meeting shall be established by the mediator.
All meetings shall be held in closed session, as defined in § 707.
The mediator may meet with both parties separately or in joint session.
All mediation proceedings shall be confidential and the mediator shall make no public statement on the issue(s) in controversy, unless the statement is authorized in advance by both parties.
All information, reports, records, documents, and statements made by or submitted to the mediator by either party shall be strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed by the mediator.
All documents, reports, or other written material prepared by the mediator shall be strictly confidential and shall not be disclosed.
The mediator shall be authorized to terminate mediation proceedings at any time and may refer the remaining issue(s) in dispute to fact-finding upon a determination that the mediation process will no longer be productive toward the resolution of the disputed issue(s).
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 5, r. 5-E708