LITTLE COMPTON — A mediation session held Wednesday night failed to resolve the expiring teachers contract, but another is slated to be held tomorrow.

“We haven’t made much progress,” union president Carol Belair said yesterday, after teachers attended an orientation program for the start of the school year.

The union members, however, have indicated they are willing to return to work on Tuesday without a new agreement. They voted before the Wednesday session “to work to contract if there is no agreement before the start of school on Tuesday,” Belair said.

Under a work-to-contract, or work-to-rule scenario, teachers cease performing some functions that are not required by their contract, such as afterschool activities. Belair said the 36 Little Compton teachers have not yet defined what that would mean in their case.

“We decided we would discuss it as a group if it becomes necessary,” Belair said. “It’s hard for us in Little Compton to think about doing that. We are a small community. We’re close to the parents. We’re hoping we don’t have to do that.”

Belair said the last strike in Little Compton was held so long ago she couldn’t recall when it was, although she guessed it was more than 20 years ago. Nor could she recall any work-to-rule actions.

“We have gone down to the wire before. We hope we’re just going down to the wire again,” she said.

The union vote regarding work-to-rule was intended to provide guidance for the negotiating team, represented by the National Education Association.

“It was pretty much to give us the authority to do what is best,” she said. “What most of us think is best is to show up at work on Tuesday.”

Belair said the two sides have agreed not to discuss the details of the contract talks.

Tomorrow’s session begins at 9:30 a.m., allowing negotiators the whole day to work on the contract. When asked if meetings could be held the following days, she said, “The teachers have indicated they are willing to meet anytime.”

Wednesday’s meeting was the third session held since the union asked the state for mediation. The state appointed lawyer John J. Harrington to help guide the two sides to a resolution. Unlike arbitration, a mediator doesn’t have the authority to make an award. His role is to help the two sides reach an agreement.

rsalit@projo.com