The Marysville School District made a new

proposal to its striking teachers Friday before adjourning their

latest round of contract talks. A district spokeswoman says

negotiators for the teachers made a response late last night, but

she did not have details about it.

The bargainers worked until

about 10:30 last night. They plan to meet again today with a

mediator. Yesterday was the 39th day of the strike, which began on

September 2nd. The new district proposal maintains a status quo

salary schedule for the 2003-2004 school year.

It would create a

joint committee to transition teachers to the state salary schedule

beginning next year while ensuring no loss in compensation. It also

would open schools on Monday with a teacher preparation day and

bring most students to school on Tuesday. Kindergartners would

begin on Wednesday.

The strike by nearly 700 teachers has delayed

the start of school for 11-thousand students. Governor Gary Locke

has pressured both sides to end the longest teachers strike in

state history, saying he wants schools to reopen Monday, even if

negotiations aren't completed.