(Strongsville) - As a result of Monday talks and teacher demonstrations, the Strongsville City Schools Board of Education strongly believes that a teacher union strike is inevitable.

Board President David Frazee says, “While we still have until midnight on March 3 to negotiate, the actions and negotiation tactics of the Strongsville Education Association (SEA) negotiation team as well as the menacing behavior of teachers at board member homes and the negotiation site lead us to believe that a strike is what the teachers’ union desires,” said Frazee.

“The board and I are extremely disappointed with the teachers’ actions. Of course, we are still in negotiations and hope that a strike can be averted. The Board continues to negotiate in good faith. We presented a contract proposal that reflects the economic realities of these difficult fiscal times,” said Frazee.

Frazee says it was reported that the police had to be called to ensure the safety of the Board members and negotiation team.

The district also has a website for parents to follow developments: Click here!

The Strongsville Education Association filed a 10 day strike notice last week with the board of education. SEA President Tracy Linscott told Newsradio WTAM 1100 that bargaining had reached an impasse.

Linscott says teachers have been working without a contract since June, and after negotiations with a federal mediator there was still is no movement.

Linscott says the union agreed to monetary, benefit, and work rule concessions in their last contract, and accuses the board of breaking earlier promises. She says they no longer have confidence that the school district can be properly run.

According to a news release from the board, Strongsville City Schools have installed “pay to play” cost savings measures and reduced expenditures. 

Expenditures in 2009 were $74,630,680 and were reduced to $67,240,464 in 2012, a decrease of $7,390,216. If the Strongsville City Schools continued on its current path, projected deficits are $1,193,135 for 2014; $4,677,231 for 2015; and $10,863,811 for 2016. 

In anticipation of a work stoppage, the Strongsville City Schools is planning for this eventuality.

“All of our efforts place the safety, security and education of our students first,” said John Krupinski, school superintendent.

“We will keep the community informed about meetings with our federal mediator as well as actions we are taking to prepare for a worst case scenario,” said Krupinski. “We will ensure that our schools remain open and a safe learning environment for our students with licensed teachers, who have cleared the state required background check, in place. We have already identified a significant number of substitute teachers and are putting procedures in place to help us make a smooth and orderly transition to a substitute teaching team.”

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