Brecksville-Broadview Heights teachers urge school board to sign pledge to avoid strike

BRECKSVILLE, Ohio - Teachers and support staff  in Brecksville-Broadview Heights want the school board to sign a pledge that would prevent a strike.

Under the pledge, teachers and support staff would forfeit their right to strike, if the Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District board forfeits its right to impose a contract, a spokesperson said.

The pledge would be a legally binding document, if signed by the both sides.

"The focus  should be on football games," 8th grade teacher Joe Zenir said. "The focus should be on cross country meets, elementary teachers putting up bulletin boards and the community doesn't need to see all of this.  It's too public.  By signing this pledge, we can put negotiations back where they belong and the emphasis on kids where it belongs."

Negotiations have been underway with the teachers since the spring, and last month the teachers authorized their negotiating team to issue a strike authorization if necessary.

There is a negotiation session scheduled with a federal mediator on Thursday.

There's been no response yet  from the school district about the pledge.

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