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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 13, 2006 Rogue River High School teachers (front row, left to right) Greg Guson, Curtis North and Emily Miller picket in front of the school Wednesday morning. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell STRIKE COOLS Rogue River officials leave negotiations saying things are looking pretty good By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — The teachers’ strike might be over after just one day of pickets and protest. "They all have smiles on their faces and they’re making great progress," Rogue River Elementary School Principal Michele Wolf said Wednesday night during a dinner break following four hours of negotiations between teachers’ union representatives and district officials. The two sides spent several hours in executive session negotiating an agreement which officially could end the strike today, Wolf said. After several meetings with state mediators, school board members Mike Kuntz, Tracey Geddes and Dave Artoff met face to face with the teachers’ negotiating team, plus district Superintendent Charles Hellman and High School Principal Dave Orr. Orr will take over as district superintendent in September. Teachers and district officials have been at odds for eight months over issues including cuts in the length of the school year, salary considerations and merit pay increases. Advertisement After seven hours of last-ditch negotiating Monday with state mediators, the district’s final offer was rejected by an overwhelming majority of teachers early Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon teachers turned in their keys and showed up on picket lines Wednesday morning. The main issue for both sides has been day cuts. The board has maintained it must have the ability to cut days off the school calendar to balance the budget. The teachers have stated they will not allow unilateral cut language into the new contract. Four hours into Wednesday’s meeting, Geddes came out for a breath of fresh air and announced the "big gorilla" may have been tamed. "We appear to have found a way to resolve the big issue that will work for both sides," said Geddes. Declining to give details, Geddes stated with a smile, "Things are looking good." Wednesday’s meeting was requested by the teachers, said Geddes, who delayed a scheduled trip out of town in order to achieve a quorum for the last-minute meeting. Board member Johney Myers left town Wednesday morning. Former Board Chairman Dick Handbury resigned Tuesday morning. Parents say the strike can’t be resolved fast enough for them. Across the street from Evans Valley Elementary School, Danielle Dominick and Erica Markleyhad four of their young children picketing approximately 100 feet from the marching teachers. The teachers’ signs stated "Fair Contract Now." Markley and Dominick’s kids signs said, "What about us?" and "Our Kids Have Needs Too." Drivers passing by were honking their horns in agreement with both batches of picketers. "Put our kids back in school," said Markley. "I don’t have any position. I just want my kids back in school." In Rogue River, parent and business owner Dean Stirm said he was saddened to see his son’s fourth-grade teacher marching in the morning drizzle. "I drove into town and at first I just saw a mass of people," said Stirm. "Then I saw my son’s teacher. She was walking with another teacher carrying signs. They had their heads down. It was very sad." At the time, Stirm did not know the two sides would meet later that afternoon — and late into the evening. Stirm said he was trying to understand each side’s needs and stay neutral. But the situation was frustrating, he said. "Neither side has a plan to resolve this," said Stirm. "And when you ask them about their plan, they just try to tell you their side is right." Markley agreed. The teachers’ marching down the street weren’t talking, she said. And the district’s strike notification did not clarify matters for her, Markley added. "They (the district) sent a note home," said Markley. "But it’s all in jargon so we can’t understand. They just need to come to a compromise and get my kids back in school." Reach reporter Sanne Specht at 776-4497 or e-mail STRIKE COOLS ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Hammocks Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Email Security Advertisement s Advertisement