Despite a four-hour-long negotiation session Thursday night, the Hermitage Education Association notified the administration at 3:30 p.m. Friday of its intent to strike next Thursday.

"We think we finally hit an impasse," chief union negotiator Paul Estock said Friday evening. "We got into this 'This is the final offer' kind of mode. At least one side did."

"I wouldn't say it was unexpected," said Timothy Ruffo, vice president of the school board and chairman of its negotiating committee. "They have that right."

According to state regulations, teachers unions must give at least a 48-hour notice to the administration before a strike.

The HEA and the board have been in contract negotiations since January 2001; teachers have been working without a contract since July 1. The union membership in November gave negotiators permission to strike if necessary.

School Superintendent Karen Ionta said Friday evening she hopes that a negotiation session scheduled for Tuesday night will yield more progress.

"Hopefully upon completion of the meeting we will come to a resolution or close to a resolution," she said, adding that if not, she will prepare a formal news release and send a letter home to parents Wednesday, regarding the students, the school and the schedule.

Spokesmen for both sides said they would like to see resolution but were firm in their positions.

"Obviously, resolution is what we ultimately want, but at this point, we feel very comfortable where we're at with our proposal," said Ruffo. "All contracts come down to one thing," he said, but would not say what that one thing is.

"Generally speaking there was some movement on both sides, not significant but movement," Estock said of Thursday's meeting. "It's something to build on, I hope for the next meeting," he added.

"If movement is possible, we can do it Tuesday," said Estock. "Hopefully the strike notice will make the 19th more meaningful. I think we have a golden opportunity on Tuesday to settle this."

The school board's monthly business meeting begins at 7 p.m. Monday in the board meeting room at the Central Administration Center, attached to Artman Elementary School.