FRANKLIN — Educators in the Franklin City Schools are putting together a contingency plan for transportation should non-teaching employees go on strike Monday.

        Meanwhile, bus drivers in the Hamilton City Schools are set to vote this week on a tentative agreement reached last week after seven months of negotiations, including sessions with a federal mediator.

        A master contract with drivers expired last June and employees had been working under terms of the old agreement. The drivers declined to say publicly when they will vote.

        Franklin Assistant Superintendent Bill Wood

        said the district has received a strike notice by members of Local 635 of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees.

        “I'm optimistic we'll reach an agreement,” Mr. Wood said. “We're really not that far apart. I'm pleased with the progress we've made.”

        Both sides met for the second time with a federal mediator last Friday but the session was cut short because the mediator had to leave after four hours of negotiations.

        Another session with the mediator is set for 11 a.m., Friday, Mr. Wood said. A deadline of midnight Monday was set by OAPSE, which represents 125 bus drivers, cooks, mechanics, aides, secretaries, custodians and maintenance workers in the Warren County school district.

        Employees have been working under conditions of the former agreement, which expired Aug. 31.

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