By Cindy Kranz
The Cincinnati Enquirer

SYCAMORE TOWNSHIP - Sycamore teachers Thursday rejected the school board's most recent proposal, described by the board as its "final offer."

The Sycamore Education Association (SEA) has said it will ask the board to return to the negotiating table. Sycamore Community Schools Board President Charles Wilfong said Thursday nightthere are no assurances that the board will change its mind.

Teachers, who have been negotiating the contract for nearly a year, rejected the offer by a vote of 237-189 (56 percent to 44 percent).

But that doesn't mean a strike.

"The Sycamore teachers will continue to do what they have always done: provide the education that has become synonymous with excellence," said Susan Sauer, SEA president.

The offer was made the last week in January with the stipulation that if the offer was not accepted in its entirety by Feb. 17, the board would implement last year's (2001-02) contract.

The board said it would begin negotiations in April or May on a new contract for 2003-04.

"The threat to remove all offers of raises and insurance as well as adding new, never negotiated contract language is extremely insulting to a teaching staff that has continually proven itself to be one of the best in the state of Ohio," Sauer said.". . . One side giving the other side a `take it or leave it' ultimatum appears to be retaliation and not good-faith bargaining," she said.

Health insurance costs have been the major stumbling block to a settlement.

"The community will be very disappointed," Wilfong said. I think there's certainly a level of frustration with this process that we were hoping this offer would resolve."

E-mail ckranz@enquirer.com