More than 6,000 children attend Strongsville schools, a small city about half-way between Cleveland and Medina. Many were no shows on Monday, which may be a good thing because the district has hired only about 140 substitutes.

The striking members of the Strongsville Education Association insist they just want to get the school board back to the bargaining table. The school board insists it’s facing a $6 million shortfall and needs concessions. And Superintendent John Krupinski says many schools face similar problems

“I would love to have our teachers back in the classroom. We made our last-best offer, and obviously, they haven’t bought it. I can’t speak to other districts (but) I know we’re all struggling. And there’s some concern in regard to the upcoming (two-year state)  budget and how that’s going to impact. Gov. Kasich has talked about the fact that it’s going to flat-line, we won’t be hurt. But again, that’s not going to increase our funding.”

Kasich has said his two-year state budget proposal would help even the assets of rich and poor school districts, but some 60 percent of the schools in the state will see no extra state money.