Mayor Calls for Teachers, Schools to 'Return to Bargaining Table'

Mayor Tom Perciak is calling for the Strongsville School Board and striking teachers to resume negotiations within 48 hours.

"Bottom line, all parties need to re-think their priorities and return to the bargaining table," Perciak said.

School Board President David Frazee said Monday he believes it is typical to hold off on resuming talks after a strike is called.

"I'm told that usually, there's a seven- to 10-day cooling off period before negotiations resume," Frazee said.

He said it is up to the federal mediator to set up the next round of contract talks between Strongsville schools and the Strongsville Education Association, which represents .

But Perciak said the issue of a teachers' strike affects the whole community.

"Residents want the teachers in the classroom," said Perciak, who said he spent most of the day on the phone with upset parents. "I'm going to convey (to the board and teachers) what our residents expect of them."

Perciak said he has offered to assist in the negotiations in any way he can.

He added that Strongsville safety officials have expressed to both sides that they are expected to maintain "peace and good order throughout this work stoppage."

The mayor also said he believes schools should remain open during the strike, partly because more than 600 seniors at Strongsville High School will be graduating in three months.

"We need to get those seniors graduated," he said.

Board Meeting Canceled

Meanwhile, the School Board has canceled its regular monthly work session, which was set for March 7.

"We didn't think it would be a very good time to have a meeting," Frazee said.

Disgruntled teachers have shown up by the hundreds at the last three board meetings. In addition, small groups last week protested in front of board members' homes.

The teachers also gathered outside the police station on Sunday to yell "scab" and "go home" at substitutes applying to fill in, and on Monday, ran picket lines outside all the school buildings.

Also, the board has filed an unfair labor practice charge against SEA members for allegedly forming a human barricade to prevent district officials from leaving a negotiation session, entering the building and chanting loudly, and pounding on a car.

Related stories:

Teachers' Strike Day 1: Picket Lines in Strongsville

Strongsville Teachers Vote to Strike

Strongsville Teachers Shout at Subs as They Apply to Replace Them

Strongsville Teachers Won't Honor Subs' Grades During Strike

School Board Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Against Teachers' Union

Teachers' Union Criticizes School Board for Truancy Policy

l

• Get the latest Strongsville news delivered to your inbox every morning by signing up for our free newsletter. Click here.

And see when each new story is published by liking us on Facebook.