Efforts by the Pittsburgh Public Schools and Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers to preserve a cordial relationship during a labor dispute took a step backward when the district said it would consider hiring outsiders to teach at accelerated learning academies, union President John Tarka said yesterday.

Mr. Tarka said he and his membership had a "very strong negative reaction" to Superintendent Mark Roosevelt's comment that he would consider looking for help outside the bargaining unit if a contract with teachers isn't quickly reached.

"That's something we object to completely," Mr. Tarka said.

Teachers and other professional employees in the 3,125-member bargaining unit have been without a contract since June 30. The PFT voted down a proposed contract March 29, and Mr. Tarka said the union is considering its next step.

Mr. Roosevelt said he must have a contract by April 21 if the eight accelerated learning academies are to open on schedule next summer with the longer school day and extended year he's promised students and parents. The academies are the heart of a reorganization plan that Mr. Roosevelt hopes will boost student achievement.

As long as teachers work under the old contract, Mr. Roosevelt has said, he can schedule and pay academy teachers only for a regular school day. District officials said they would consider the possibility of hiring outsiders to cover the additional instructional time--45 minutes per school day and 10 days per school year.

The proposal could divide the school board. Board member Patrick Dowd has said he would consider the measure to keep Mr. Roosevelt's academic initiatives on track, but board member Randall Taylor, a frequent critic of Mr. Roosevelt, said he shared Mr. Tarka's objections.

If the extra instructional time isn't fully integrated into the curriculum and offered by highly qualified teachers, Mr. Taylor said, it would be "glorified tutoring" of little value.

The district hasn't said who might be hired. A variety of organizations offer after-school programs, however, and there also are private companies that offer tutoring to struggling students.

Mr. Taylor said the district either should hold off scheduling the additional class time until the district and union reach a contract or should hire its teachers to do the extra work at a per-diem rate. He said the district already pays teachers such a rate for extra duties.

"I don't believe in privatization except in some real necessary instances," Mr. Taylor said.

Pittsburgh teachers haven't struck the district in about 30 years. District and union officials attributed the labor peace to mutual respect and a joint willingness to tackle the district's problems.

In the current dispute, teachers have yet to give Mr. Tarka a strike authorization. Mr. Tarka and Mr. Roosevelt continue to talk to one another, and Mr. Tarka said his membership remains committed to helping the district improve student achievement.

"We want to see the district move forward ... We support the school district and the Pittsburgh community," Mr. Tarka said.

The school board approved a two-year contract proposal March 29, but the union voted it down the same night against Mr. Tarka's advice. Members said they wanted more time to review the proposal.