Mayor Issues Appeal to Strongsville Teachers' Union, School District

Mayor Tom Perciak, who has repeatedly offered to help break a stalemate between the Strongsville School District and teachers' union, issued a plea to both sides to meet in his office this week to talk.

"I'm going to make an appeal here today . . . to please come to my office on Friday at 10 in the morning," Perciak said. "Let's sit down and start negotiating in earnest so we can bring our children back to school."

His remarks came at his annual State of the City address on Tuesday, the 16th day of a strike by the Strongsville Education Association.

Superintendent John Krupinski, who attended the mayor's speech, said afterward that he could not yet respond.

"We will consider the mayor's invitation," Krupinski said. "But I can't make that decision alone."

Krupinski said a federal mediator sets negotiating sessions, and the School Board would also have to authorize a meeting in Perciak's office.

Perciak has been vocal in urging an end to the teachers' strike, saying it hurts the entire community.

"It's time for the posturing to stop, it's time for the rhetoric to stop," the mayor said. "It's time to sit down and negotiate a settlement to this work stoppage."

The SEA could not be immediately reached for comment.