Morgan Local Schools to bring students back Tuesday

MCCONNELSVILLE — Morgan Local Schools will resume in-person instruction Tuesday, although the strike by the union representing non-teaching employees continues.

The district has been operating under remote learning since Wednesday, when members of Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 51 went on strike.

That will continue Monday, with students set to return to the buildings Tuesday and substitute workers and some changes in place, according to a statement issued by Morgan Local Superintendent Kristin Barker.

“All substitute workers have undergone and passed BCI and FBI background checks in accordance with Ohio Department of Education requirements,” the statement said. “Parents who have expressed an interest in helping as volunteers who have been board-approved are asked to stop by the main office of their preferred school building. We would appreciate your help! If you have not yet been board-approved but would like to assist, please stop by Central Office to sign up.”

School bus transportation will be limited to pickup points throughout the county, with a schedule to be posted Monday, the statement said. A sack lunch will be available for students to purchase daily starting Tuesday.

The district said it will continue communicating with families via its all-call system, district Facebook page and updates on the district’s web page, www.morganschools.org.

OAPSE Local 51 represents more than 100 bus drivers, cafeteria workers, aides, maintenance workers, secretaries and mechanics. The main sticking point in the negotiations has been wages, with the district offering raises of 5%, 4% and 4%, with retroactive pay over three years, on the eve of the strike, and the union countering with 6%, 4% and 4%.

OAPSE Local 51 President Tom Quaintance said workers remained in “pretty good spirits” on the third day of the strike. They are picketing at or near some schools, and Quaintance said while they don’t like the idea of students returning before the workers do, their only communication to passing buses might be a greeting to the kids.

“We’re looking forward to getting back to the table to get this finalized,” Quaintance said. “I’d like to have my butt back in a bus seat.”

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.