Teachers' Union Wants Meeting with All 5 School Board Members

The Strongsville Education Association has reportedly asked to negotiate with the full School Board, but an attorney representing the district said no.

A news release from the SEA, which represents the 383 striking teachers, guidance counselors and psychologists, says the union asked to set up a bargaining session with all five Board of Education members during a meeting Monday night with a federal mediator.

“The SEA asked for a negotiations session that includes all five board members,” SEA President Tracy Linscott said in the release. “The board’s counsel refused this request.” 

The meeting Monday, which lasted more than three hours, produced no results, both sides said.

At the session were Superintendent John Krupinski and the district's attorney, Bill Pepple, and Lincsott and Tad Colbeck, a labor relations consultant from the Ohio Education Association.

The federal mediator said no more sessions would be scheduled, but the two sides were free to meet on their own.

"While board President Dave Frazee has repeatedly stated that the Board’s team is willing to sit down and negotiate fairly, the board’s counsel steadfastly refuses," the SEA news release says.

The last contract talks were on March 2, the day before teachers voted to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. March 4.

Krupinski could not be immediately reached for comment. 

Tests Go On as Planned 

Meanwhile, Krupinski said the start of the week-long Ohio Graduate Testing is off to a successful start.

“We will continue to administer OGTs throughout the week,” Krupinski said in a news release. “We made a commitment to our students and their families that we will conduct these important tests. We will honor that commitment during the week.”

He said make-up tests will be administered next week for students who missed this week’s testing due to illness or excused absence.

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