Silence spoke louder than words Monday when, with a teachers strike deadline looming, about 100 people packed a Hermitage School Board meeting but didn't ask a single question.

If teachers strike, parents will get the news in a letter sent home with students Wednesday, board President Duane Piccirilli read from a prepared statement. A negotiating session is set for tonight, he said.

"The board and I regret this unfortunate development, and along with (Superintendent) Mrs. (Karen) Ionta, will devote full energies to resolve the strike and underlying labor dispute."

Friday afternoon, despite more than a year of negotiating with the board, the Hermitage Education Association, gave the administration notice teachers would strike Thursday unless a deal is reached.

Though Monday's board meeting was uneventful, the large number of people in attendance pushed the meeting from the board room to the community room in Artman Elementary School.

About half the people at the meeting were teachers, according to Paul Estock, the chief negotiator for the union. Estock teaches sixth grade.

"They were here to show that they are backing their negotiating team," Estock said after the meeting.

According to Act 88, the state law covering contract negotiations, teachers could strike for seven days, starting Thursday.

Estock explained that the law limits the length of the strike because students must complete 180 class days by June 15.

After the strike, teachers would return to class and the union and board would enter nonbinding arbitration with a state-appointed arbiter from the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, Estock said.

If either side opposes the arbiter's solution, the teachers can strike again, possibly keeping students in school until June 30, he said.

June 5 is the last scheduled day of classes.

If teachers strike Thursday, there will be no school that day, Mrs. Ionta said after the meeting. There are no plans to hold classes without teachers, she said.

According to a statement by board Vice President Timothy J. Ruffo earlier in the month, the district has a strike plan in place. Ruffo also chairs the board's negotiating committee.

Piccirilli, who announced he will be the spokesman for the board negotiators from now on, concurred with Ruffo's statement. "The superintendent has a plan in place. Hopefully we'll work it out tomorrow. Honestly, I don't think either side wants to strike."

Estock echoed that sentiment: "I'm hoping for a settlement. I think if both sides move, we can settle. The history here is that they settle it at the midnight hour."

"I'm not saying I'm optimistic, I'm saying I'm hopeful," Estock said. "I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work."

The last time Hermitage teachers struck was in 1976, Estock said. That strike lasted 22 days.