Teachers’ strike east of Portland continues

TROUTDALE, Ore. (AP) — Teachers continue their strike in the Reynolds School District east of Portland after negotiators failed to reach agreement during daylong bargaining Wednesday.

The district says its schools will remain closed Thursday, except for a program to help seniors determine if they need to do anything to ensure graduation. The strike began Monday.

The Oregonian reports (http://is.gd/ggw0cn ) that the district presented the Reynolds Education Association with a new salary offer late Wednesday. Superintendent Joyce Henstrand called it “truly the final financial offer we can make.”

Union president Joyce Rosenau says the district’s offer was a small improvement on previous proposals.

The newspaper says another bargaining session has not been scheduled, but would occur no later than Tuesday. Henstrand says she’s working to arrange a session sooner than that.

The district has 11,000 enrolled students, 10,300 of whom are affected by the strike.

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Information from: The Oregonian, http://www.oregonlive.com