SHEFFIELD —  The union representing the teachers at the Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Schools formally filed a 10-day strike notice Friday with the district.

Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Teacher’s Association President Pat Czech said in a statement issued by the union that the two sides trying to reach a contract are at a stalemate.

“We gave the board a comprehensive counterproposal that addressed all of the issues that remain on the table. The SSLTA was disappointed that the board did not respond to our counterproposal,’’ she said. “We were prepared to continue bargaining. Unfortunately, the board was not.”

Superintendent Will Folger said in a prepared statement that even if the teachers strike, schools will stay open.

“The board and administration are prepared to carry out all school activities,” Folger’s statement read. “We will keep the schools open and continue to educate our children in a safe and orderly environment.”

Another statement released by the district’s board office said the two sides exchanged new proposals during a six-hour mediation session Wednesday, but “remained far apart.’’

The board offered the teachers a new, three-year contract with base pay raises of 2 percent in the first year, 2.5 percent in the second and third years plus cash payments to each teacher each year.

The teachers countered by asking for 3.45 percent raises in each of the three years, but “the proposal included salary schedule changes which would primarily benefit more senior teachers,” the board’s statement read.

“The teachers’ union has said it plans to strike,” Folger said in the statement. “We are taking the strike possibility seriously … We tried to close the gap with the teachers, but the taxpayers who support our schools are expecting us to be good stewards of public dollars in this difficult climate.’’

No additional mediation sessions are scheduled at this time.

“We’re still hoping to come back to the table and get an agreement before we have to strike,” Czech said during an interview Friday.

A special meeting of the school board has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday in the Board of Education conference room, 1824 Harris Road, Sheffield.

Contact Alicia Castelli at 329-7144 or acastelli@chroniclet.com.

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