2nd Meeting Called by Mediator in Teachers' Strike

The federal mediator overseeing contract talks between Strongsville schools and striking teachers has called a second meeting between key players for Monday night.

It will be the second "exploratory" meeting involving two people from each side: Superintendent John Krupinski and the district's attorney, Bill Pepple, will meet with Tracy Linscott, president of the Strongsville Education Association, and Tad Colbeck of the Ohio Eduction Association.

The four will not negotiate, but will look into setting new contract talks.

The first meeting of that type took place Wednesday, March 6, and ended with no new negotiations scheduled because the two sides were still far apart.

"Based upon these discussions there is no basis for the mediator to convene the negotiation teams at this time," the school district said in a news release after the meeting. "The parties remain substantially divided on key issues."

The 383-member SEA finished the first week of a strike with a rally Friday afternoon on the City Commons.

Meanwhile, school officials say things are improving in school buildings as the district brings on new substitutes every day.