GARY, Ind. (AP) -- School district administrators warned striking teachers they could be fired if they do not return to their classrooms by Thursday.þþ''The Board of Trustees is prepared to use any and all available remedies to protect the interest of the Gary Community School Corporation and its students,'' Superintendent Mary Steele wrote to teachers Tuesday.þþMore than 800 teachers, who have been without a contract since December 2004, went on strike Aug. 21 in the 16,000-student district.þþThe district attempted to begin classes two days later, but student turnout was light. Administrators then canceled classes until further notice on Thursday.þþTeachers union President Sandra Irons said the letters would not help the situation.þþ''Rather than spending all of their time trying to determine how they are going to make teachers look bad, feel bad -- they feel bad enough already -- they could be spending that same amount of time trying to negotiate a settlement,'' she said.þþBoth sides said Tuesday they are willing to negotiate, but no new bargaining sessions were scheduled.þþThe letter from the school district tells the teachers that their health, dental and life insurance will not be paid for during the strike and that they must pay the premiums if they want to keep the coverage. þþ
Source: NY Times
