The Pittsburgh school district stands at a very critical juncture. Its window of opportunity for education reform is small and closing, and its room for error is negligible. At stake are the futures of 30,000 children, their families and the regional economy, which will one day depend on the performance of these students.

While views may differ about strategic components of reform and issues at stake are complex, A+ Schools believes that a teachers strike will do nothing to serve the interests of our children and that a disruption to student education is unacceptable.

We urge the administration and board of the Pittsburgh Public Schools and the leadership and membership of the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers to resolve the issues related to a teachers' contract -- in a way that avoids a strike and ensures that educating our children progresses without interruption.

The disruption of learning is especially detrimental to our most struggling students and it causes hardship for families -- especially single parents, working parents and those with fewer resources. In addition to crippling reform efforts, a strike could result in an immediate and future loss of students (and state funding) that may not return.

Further, it would set back what progress has been made in improving the image of the district. Recent events at nearby Seneca Valley School District illustrate that a strike does not guarantee resolution of labor issues. We know from Pittsburgh's history that a strike can result in bitterness that may take years to heal.

It is our hope and expectation that all parties will do whatever is required to ensure that kids are never used as a bargaining chip, and that all negotiations will be conducted in a way that reflects compassion and commitment to the futures of our city's students.

We believe that reasonable people, applying reasonable processes, will come up with acceptable outcomes to all parties without resorting to a strike. A strike, we believe, implies that at least one of the negotiating parties, if not more than one, was unreasonable in its approach. The Pittsburgh community expects you to be reasonable, transparent and accountable, and if stalemated, to seek mediation or arbitration.

We implore all of you to continue your negotiations diligently, respectfully and reasonably, and to avoid a strike as an option. To that end, we urge the two sides to allow public oversight of the contract negotiations and to accept third-party facilitation by Dec. 10 to resolve this issue.

The Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers and the management of the Pittsburgh Public Schools have a long track record and reputation for working together. We urge you to continue in this vein, resolve this contract negotiation positively and keep children as the priority.