Earlier this week, the Blue Ridge Federation posted its latest proposal to the Blue Ridge Board of Education.

The two sides have been negotiating terms of a new contract since February and the teachers union over the summer formed a strike exploratory committee.

Don Anton, President of the Blue Ridge Federation says they want to avoid a strike, remaining hopeful the Board of Education will work with them to prevent one. He feels this latest proposal is one step closer to a possible strike. 

According to a release by the Federation, the Board's best offer was a 1-percent increase to all employees but the Federation wants better.

The Federation wants a higher starting salary and indicates its proposed adjustments to salaries would be around a $100,000 impact on the district. 

Additionally, the Federation is seeking changes to the health insurance program. Reductions in the contributions to the teacher's health savings account, or HSA, were reduced from $3,000 a year in 2017 to $1904 this year. 

They want an HSA contribution of $2750, getting closer to the fully funded level of $3,000.

Federation estimates say that would be a cost of just short of $83,000 to the district. 

The two sides will meet before a mediator for a third time on October 9.