E. Palestine board, teachers at impasse

EAST PALESTINE -- City teachers continue to work without a contract.
Don Carson, spokesman for the 95-member East Palestine Education Association, said Monday that representatives of the union and the board met nearly five hours Thursday with no agreement reached and no further meetings scheduled.
A federal mediator has been involved in the negotiations since July 22.
"We are very frustrated," Carson said. "We want a contract. We wanted one in June."
Carson declined to elaborate on sticking points in the negotiations, stating that the teachers prefer to negotiate at the bargaining table rather than in the newspaper.
The union has membership approval to issue a strike notice if necessary but has not done so.
Negotiations began May 8 and continued until an impasse was declared June 20. Both parties then requested that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service appoint a mediator. A three-year contract expired June 30.