NEWTON FALLS - The strike had a wet and rocky start Friday.
Outside of the Newton Falls school complex Friday afternoon, drivers honked for, yelled at or made rude gestures toward teachers who were picketing in the rain.
Friday marked the first day of the teachers strike against the Newton Falls Exempted Village School District after teachers rejected Thursday the district's last offer for a one-year contract that froze wages. The main sticking points in the talks are the short life span of the deal and wages.
Administration officials said they do not expect to speak with federal mediators again until Wednesday.
Union president Peggy Guliano said, "We told them that we were ready to meet at any time."
Almost one-third of the students in the district were absent Friday. Superintendent David Wilson said the 69 percent attendance was more than he expected for the first day of the strike.
On the line, teachers marched while members of a private security company videotaped them, something Wilson said was standard during strikes against the district. Cars, UPS vans and Coca Cola trucks blew their horns for the striking teachers.
Wilson said about 40 substitute teachers showed up to take the district's offer of $200 a day. Guliano said the substitutes normally earn $75 per day.
"It's like a slap in the face," she said.
Wilson said the first day of the strike went smoothly, with the exception of the high school students, where teachers had to be assigned to the different subjects.
One woman pulling in past the picket line in a van told the strikers her children were in school Friday, but wouldn't be on Monday.
Another woman, Julie Stimper, said that teachers told her son in the 10th grade that they would not hold it against him if he went to class during the strike, but any work he did would not count while they gone.
Wilson said Thursday after hearing similar reports that school is in and work counts. On Friday, he said those who were absent needed to have an excuse just like for any other absence.
Union officials discredited similar reports of teachers warning students away from school, stating that their union would not discuss the strike with students.
A couple students interviewed after class said there wasn't much difference between sitting in class and staying home Friday.
"They did not do anything. They took our names down," Stephanie Caroline said about the substitute teachers.
Caroline said most of her friends were out of school Friday.
Eighth-grade student Hope Host said not much happened during class. She said her day was boring.
Her mother, Loretta Host, said she thought the strike should end.
"I understand that they need more money but they need to think of the children," she said.
High School Junior Jacob Ballas, the nephew of Board of Education member Ed Ballas, joined teachers, picketing in his varsity jacket. He and his friend Chase Carter both are on the football team, which had to cancel its game against Windham Friday night because of the strike.
"We're here to support the teachers," Ballas said. "It's ridiculous what's going on at the high school."
The two were angry at missing their game.
"There's no doubt we would have won," Carter said.
