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Around 80 of Lakota East's teachers gathered at the flag pole Friday morning — as did teachers across the district — following another day of negotiations on a contract.

The Lakota Education Association and the district are at an impasse in a contract that was approved Sept. 1, 2005 and expired Aug. 31, 2008. Both sides agreed to continue under the current contract until an agreement has been reached.

Thursday, Oct. 9, the union and district met for 5.5 hours and union President Judy Buschle said talks were "progressing."

"I appreciate all your support and we need to stay united," she said. "We need to continue to work together, because it's very important."

The union presented its fifth comprehensive compensation package to the district, and Buschle said the board will consider it and present its counter-offer at a 3:30 p.m. Oct. 14 meeting without a federal mediator. The mediator will rejoin the process Oct. 27-28. The LEA represents 1,235 full- and part-time teachers for the seventh-largest school district in the state.

"There's no reason why we shouldn't be compensated for our excellence and the time we give," Buschle said, commenting on the year-round time commitment for teachers, despite a nine-month contract. "It makes it a lot easier for us to know you are standing behind us."

Negotiations Chairman John Severns said gathering at the flag pole before school has built up morale.

"When we did this two weeks ago, everybody said let's do this again," he said.

The union members also have gathered at a school board meeting and have been wearing buttons that state, "Together We Can."

Teacher Caroline Testerman stood up and encouraged the group to gather at the bridge in the center of the school for a huddle and a cheer, "together we can."

The symbolism, she said, was because the teachers are the core of the school.

District spokeswoman Laura Kursman said the district could not talk about negotiations, but talks are continuing.

Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5067 or lhilty@coxohio.com.