A federal mediator's planned meeting hopes to avoid a looming strike in the Harrison Hills School District. The school board and the union are in the process of negotiating a contract, hoping to avoid an Oct. 1 strike date.

“The teachers are becoming very nervous and upset that we've been pushed to this point. Come Thursday after school we are totally locked out of the building," said Harrison Hills Teachers Association spokeswoman Linda Rusen.

Even though the strike would officially begin on Monday, the schools will be locked Thursday evening due to an in-service day on Friday. Today teachers in the Harrison Hills School District are busy getting their personal belongings out of the classroom, but officials are hopeful that such precautions won’t be necessary.

"We're hoping this thing gets solved tonight, and it won't have to go till Friday, so we can get things back to normal," said Rusen.

The school board and the Harrison Hills Teacher Association are back in negotiations after the board announced a new contract proposal.

"I think both sides do want to get this issue resolved, and I’m hopeful that this evening it will be resolved and put behind us," said Harrison Hills Superintendent Jim Drexler.

The teachers have been working without a contract for months, and recently issued a statement saying they were ready to hit the picket lines.

Despite high hopes to avoid it on both sides of the table, they are well prepared. The board already hired a security firm.

"We are preparing for a strike and efforts are being made to be ready for that on October 1st," said Drexler.

And teachers said they will walk out if they can't agree on a contract, like it or not.

"Just feel sorry for the kids who have to be involved in this, and the parents," said Rusen.

The meeting between the school board and the Harrison Hills Teacher Association started at 4 P.M. on Wednesday. It was only slated to go until 8 P.M. tonight. If they don't come to an agreement, they will likely meet again for an emergency meeting on Friday.