FOREST PARK — Teachers in the Winton Woods City School District plan a work slowdown beginning today until a new contract is signed, union officials said Sunday night.

        Teachers in the 4,450-student district plan to adhere strictly to their contract — which ended July 31 — during the slowdown, said Stevie Lawler, president of the Winton Woods Teachers' Association, an affiliate of Ohio Education Association.

        That means extra work on curriculum and school improvement committees will not be done, among other things, she said. Teachers in the northern Hamilton County district also will not come in earlier or stay later than their contracts specify.

        “We don't want to disrupt students at all,” Ms. Lawler said. “Teachers would balk at anything that would adversely affect their students.”

        Neither teacher representatives nor school district representatives would explain contract negotiation specifics Sunday.

        But Ms. Lawler said many sticking points developed after school board contract negotiators changed the way the contract is bargained. Also, she said teachers would like to reduce class size and keep retirement incentives.

        “We're just looking for a fair contract,” Ms. Lawler said.

        The two sides last negotiated in mid-October.

        “I don't think there's been a lot of realism as far as the negotiations go,” said Thomas L. Richey, district superintendent.

        As for the work slowdown, teachers may leave before buses leave but the district will make sure students are supervised and will handle problems as they arise, Mr. Richey said.

        School officials and teachers return to the bargaining table for an interim session Dec. 11 with a new federal mediator. Because no other bargaining meetings had been planned, a State Employees Relations Board fact finder has been assigned to hear issues on Jan. 12.

        “I think (unresolved issues are) all a matter of availability of revenue,” Mr. Richey said. “We don't think schools are adequately funded.”

        The union formed a “crisis committee” after declaring an impasse in negotiations following the mid-October meeting, Ms. Lawler said. The committee assesses teachers' association members' feelings about union decisions and group activities.

        Teachers have not decided on their next action if nothing is resolved after the fact finder, Ms. Lawler said. A fact finder's decision is non-binding, allowing teachers to take further action if a union vote approves it.

        “There would be other job action, (but) I don't know for sure what that would be,” Ms. Lawler said.

        Mr. Richey does not expect a strike.

        “Absolutely not,” he said. “Strikes in Ohio are very, very, very few. It would be very foolish for any union to strike in this day in time.”

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