PORTLAND, Ore. – Contract negotiations between Portland Public Schools and the local teachers union are at an impasse, and union officials are insinuating that teachers might walk off the job.

School officials declared an impasse this week with the local teachers union at a press conference Wednesday where they pointed to the $200 million difference in compensation offers between the two sides, Fox 12 reports.

The district is eager to settle their differences soon because “prolonged bargaining becomes disruptive for our students, our schools and our communities, and it’s time for us to get a contract,” Portland Public Schools Human Resources Officer Sean Murray said.

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Gwen Sullivan, president of the Portland Association of Teachers union, shot back with a press release that alleged the impasse and the district’s sense of urgency is “dangerous and reckless.” She also attempted to place the blame on the school board for a potential teachers’ strike, which, of course, is absolutely ridiculous.

“The board is sending a clear message that they would rather force a strike and shut the school doors on students than work together with teachers,” Sullivan said, according to Fox 12.

What a load of horse hockey!

There’s only one group that would be responsible if teachers ditch students over pay and benefits, and that’s the teachers union.

School officials have one objective in negotiations: to effectively educate students while securing the best value for public tax dollars as possible.

The teachers union also has one objective: to secure as much money as it can from the district for teachers and school staff compensation.

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It seems quite obvious which side has the incentive to use students as hostages to get what it wants.

“The district stated its offer would lengthen the school year by three days and the teachers’ work year by two days. It would also maintain teacher workloads at existing levels through 2015-16, ‘streamline hiring’ to make the district more competitive for high-quality candidates, and provide pay and benefits that are ‘in line with revenue and competitive with other school districts,’” Fox 12 reports.

The union complains the district’s proposal would hurt employee job protections and could result in more work for educators, although it’s unclear what the union’s proposal entails.

The two sides have a week to submit their last offers, then a month to ruminate on the situation. “After that, the union could give a 10-day notice before potentially striking,” the television station reports.

School officials said they’ll be prepared with substitute teachers if the district’s teachers decide to follow through on their threat to turn their backs on students and parents.