Strongsville parents rally to end two-week teachers' strike

STRONGSVILLE, Ohio - Two weeks into the Strongsville teachers' strike, parents want teachers to come back to their classrooms even if it means crossing pickets lines.

They rallied along Route 82 near the center of town for four hours.

Organizer Paul Komarek called it a neutral rally that was neither anti-teacher or pro-board, however many carried signs that clearly showed they had chosen sides.

"We feel that the teachers have a good contract on the table," Komarek told the crowd, "that they're fighting over petty stuff at this point. They're the top 16 out of 600 paid teachers in the state of Ohio. In this economy when everyone is tightening their belts, we all need to tighten our belts."

Late Friday afternoon the school board announced the federal mediator has called both sides to a meeting Sunday.