Despite marathon sessions with state mediators, officials say no settlement is in sight.

The proposed settlement came after more than 20 hours of negotiations with a state mediator.

School officials declined to discuss the negotiations today, citing an order of silence issued by a state mediator several weeks ago.

Even the intervention of state mediators has failed to resolve the strike.

At the request of the teachers union, a state mediator recently began talking with each side.

By March 2001, the talks deadlocked and a state mediator was called in.

At the request of a state mediator, bargaining was to resume tonight.

But behind the scenes, both sides were meeting with state mediators.

Joined this evening by two state mediators, they were expected to meet all night, school officials said.

The teachers' union has asked for a state mediator, who will start conducting hearings today.