The teachers in the South Butler County School District remain on strike.
On Wednesday, the South Butler school board met for a regular meeting, and it was a packed house.
The meeting started with 22 people speaking to the board.
Although the majority of speakers voiced support for the teachers, several others shared opinions in opposition.
The board voted Wednesday to approve what they called their final best proposal, which they offered last week to the teachers in an effort to avoid a strike. The union did not take a vote on that proposal.
“It was great to see support and a variety of opinion’s at the meeting,” South Butler School board member George Zacherl said. “But there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done before a contract is settled. We just need to work harder to find a solution.”
In what seemed to be a response to the teachers’ union’s claims earlier this week that the district can afford what they have asked for, district solicitor Tom Breth said in a presentation that the pay increases, back pay and health care costs would result in annual budget shortfalls. By the 2022-2023 school year, the budget would have a $3 million deficit, according to Breth.
The teachers went on strike on week ago today, on Thursday, March 15.
