Trimble Board of Education and teachers union still disputing GLOUSTER, OH (WOUB) - A contract dispute intensifies in the Trimble Local School District.

The message from the Board of Education to the teachers union -- take it or leave it.

The Trimble teaching staff showed up in en mass at a Board meeting last night.

About 50 teachers were there, all dressed in red.

Their union president had just one thing to say - let's go back to the bargaining table.

Four hours later, following an executive session of the board, the teachers got their answer - you already have our final, best offer.

That offer has been rejected by members of the Trimble Local Teachers Association, who have been working under terms of an agreement which expired last summer.

School Board negotiator Garry Hunter says the district's proposal calls for a salary increase of 2.67 percent this school year and an estimated 2.4 percent next school year.

It also calls for changes in health insurance coverage.

Hunter says the changes are needed to reduce expenses which amount to $1.4 million a year.

That's out of a total budget of $9 million.

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