By Natalie Zarowny
nzarowny@cbs4qc.com
Teachers and the school board met face to face Friday for the first time, but that didn't help them reach an agreement.
More than a hundred teachers picketed on the Lincoln Highway Bridge, unfazed by the freezing weather.
Meanwhile, parents and grandparents found ways to occupy their kids still out of school, by going to places like the library.
"Day by day we'll just try to do the best we can, do as much as we can with them at home," said grandmother Ruth Contreras.
Superintendent Michael Juenger spoke for the board and the teacher's union this afternoon, as he and his counterpart, teacher Dolph Ricks, put up a united front after the three hour negotiations.
"We were productive. And we determined we're going to come back on Sunday, and we're going to continue on, on Sunday," said Juenger.
The big sticking point in all of this is money.
Teachers said they deserve a 3.75% raise, but the board is only offering 1%, plus the teachers would have to pay for their own health insurance.
Even though the two sides seem to be at an impasse, today, they're also optimistic.
"We're all very hopeful to get back to school. I can't say when that'll be," said Juenger.
But teachers and students aren't the only ones affected.
One school bus driver says the strike is keeping him on edge too.
"Kind of just hoping that they go back to work so I can go back to work," said bus driver Larry Insley.
Negotiations will pick back up again on Sunday afternoon.
