Mars Area Education Association informed Dr. Gross Wednesday night they'll be striking at the beginning of the work day Feb. 19 if a contract isn't settled by then.

Mars Area teachers are prepared to strike Feb. 19 if a contract isn't settled by then, according to a news release issued by the Pennsylvania State Education Association on Wednesday night.

Teachers have now been 220 days without a contract. The current contract expired last June.

Representatives of the Mars Area Education Association have been attending school board meetings to remind board members of the contract status.

In November, district teachers authorized their negotiation team to issue a strike notice. The team at that time decided to continue participating in negotiations.

PSEA said the decision to provide superintendent Mark Gross with official strike notification followed a negotiation session Wednesday night that lasted less than three hours.

PSEA said teachers are willing to negotiate as often as the district is willing to between now and Feb. 19.

If the contract isn't settled by then, teachers will strike at the beginning of the workday.

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