Teachers in the Shaler Area School District have given notice that they plan to strike Nov. 27, the day that students will return from Thanksgiving break.

The notice was issued Friday, following a lengthy negotiating session with a state mediator, according to a statement from Superintendent Donald Lee posted on the district's Web site.

The teachers, who have been working without a contract since June 30, have been negotiating since January, said Butch Santicola, of the Pennsylvania State Education Association. A strike could idle nearly 5,300 students in the district, which encompasses Etna, Millvale, Shaler and Reserve.

Mr. Santicola discussed the negotiations only in general terms, saying that salary and benefits were the two issues holding up the contract.

The Shaler Area Education Association, which represents the teachers, and the school district have scheduled two negotiating sessions before Nov. 27.

"The challenge to both the SAEA and the Shaler Area School District is to try and settle this contract within the next three weeks," said Dr. Lee.