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CLEVELAND, Ohio– The Cleveland Metropolitan School District released a statement Monday evening, after it says the Executive Committee of the Cleveland Teachers Union authorized a strike of its members.

Here is the complete statement:

“We are disappointed to learn that the Executive Committee of the Cleveland Teachers Union has authorized a strike of its members.  The District and CTU have been in negotiations since November 2015 and have spent hundreds of hours in bargaining.  A significant number of items have been resolved, and only a few remain.  It is unfortunate, therefore, that the CTU has chosen to put its efforts toward a strike rather than working to resolve the few remaining items.

Nonetheless, the District is making preparations to minimize the impact on our 39,000 students.  The Board remains committed to resolving any remaining issues without eroding school reforms critical to meeting the goals of The Cleveland Plan.”

FOX 8 News reached out to the Cleveland Teachers Union for a statement. They told us information will come out in a press release on Tuesday.

The contract between the Board of Education and the Teachers Union expired on June 30.

Today was the first day of classes for children in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, following summer break.