With days to go before a potential strike in the Youngstown City School District between the teachers and the administrative staff, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown is getting involved.

On Wednesday, Brown sent a letter to Youngstown Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor and the Board of Education members stating his concern about negotiations continuing and the dispute threatening to disrupt in-person learning within the district.

The letter states:

"I am concerned about ongoing contract negotiations between the Youngstown City School District and the Youngstown Education Association. We know that all sides - teachers, education professionals, and the District - care deeply about students and improving educational outcomes for everyone. However, this dispute threatens to disrupt critical in-person learning and other academic and non-academic support that Youngstown City Schools provides to our students," Brown wrote.

The letter went on to say that he understands that the teachers' union has "repeatedly made sacrifices to ensure the school district is able to emerge from a state-declared academic distressed commission in a position to support teachers and students going forward."

The letter also said that teachers are within the district, but "teacher salaries are nowhere near comparable to similar neighboring districts."

"I ask that you redouble your efforts to reach a contract that honors the dignity of work, students, parents, families, and all educational professionals. I also ask that the Board consider the incredible sacrifices that teachers and education professionals have made during the pandemic and continue to make," Brown said.

Brown concluded the letter by saying "Students and their families have already endured enough challenges over the past few years. I encourage both parties to continue negotiations to reach a fair agreement, to avoid a strike, and to prioritize what's best for Youngstown students: the ability to receive learning opportunities and instruction in their classrooms, from their permanent teachers, at the start of the 2024 school year"