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Mediation to resume Tuesday C-I STRIKE Staff Writer Crosby-Ironton School Board members and the C-I teachers' union negotiating team met for 13 hours from 2 p.m. Sunday until 3 a.m. Monday at the state Bureau of Mediation Services offices in St. Paul.
They did not reach an agreement to end the 35-day-old teachers' strike, but both sides plan to resume the mediation session at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Forestview Middle School in Baxter, according to Education Minnesota Crosby-Ironton.
Both sides were directed by the state mediator to keep details of the session confidential. But board chair Scott Kile did say the lengthy mediation session included several face-to-face meetings between the school board and union negotiators.
"It was the longest 13 hours I've ever had," said Kile.
On Wednesday, the district plans to resume classes for juniors and seniors with replacement teachers at the high school. Kindergarten through fourth-graders earlier returned to school at Cuyuna Range Elementary School.
Kile said the district has hired about 30-40 replacement teachers who are teaching at CRES and also include those ready to instruct juniors and seniors at the high school. He said that if a settlement is reached Tuesday, it's unclear right now what the timeline would be to return striking teachers to the classrooms.
Crosby Police Chief Kim Coughlin said she has asked the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Department for assistance on Wednesday to patrol both CRES and the high school before and after school to prevent any potential confrontations. Crosby police officers have been monitoring CRES before and after school.
Coughlin reminds C-I residents and high school students returning to school Wednesday that there are about five strike entry and exit sites at CRES and the high school. Stop signs have been placed at these entrances by the police department in order to effectively enforce Minnesota state statute 179.121 regarding the operation of vehicles where a dispute is in progress.
Coughlin said the statute states that anyone who operates a motor vehicle entering or leaving a place of business or employment where there is a clear notice that a labor dispute is in progress must come to a complete stop at the entrance or exit. The statute also requires motorists to exercise caution when entering or leaving the business or place of employment.
Once motorists make a complete stop, Coughlin said they may proceed and are not required to lower their windows or engage in conversation with striking teachers if they don't want to. Also, Coughlin said no one is allowed to block entrances and exits at any time to prevent the flow of traffic in and out of the schools.
Coughlin said she wants to remind everyone who enters or leaves a strike site of this state statute and to use caution so that no one becomes injured or cited during the teachers' strike.
Education Minnesota Crosby-Ironton will host a family night/rally at Gary's Sports Bar and Grill in Ironton on Tuesday. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. Doors will open at 4:45 p.m. Following dinner, speakers will include Tom Keating, Minnesota Teacher of the Year, and Ray Waldron, president of AFL-CIO. Friends, family and supporters of EDMn C-I members are welcome to attend the rally.
JODIE TWEED can be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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