GENEVA – Geneva School District 304 officials said they were surprised by the teachers union announcement this morning that teachers would walk out on Monday. 

In a statement, board president Mark Grosso said he reached out to union President Carol Young to schedule a negotiating session for Sunday instead of waiting until Tuesday.

The two sides are scheduled for another federal mediation session Tuesday, as the federal mediator is unavailable due the national holiday of Veteans Day.

In a statement released following the Geneva Education Association announcement, school officials noted they met for eight hours Tuesday and 10 hours Thursday, and had "come to agreement on all substantial issues relating to the first year of the new contract."

"With the current school year resolved, the board of education does not understand the GEA’s urgency to strike, as the union is effectively walking out over issues that would not take effect until the 2013-2014 school year," according to the district's statement."

School officials contradicted the union's characterization that the board of education “rejected [the GEA's] offers of compromise.”

"The board feels it has negotiated in good faith and has made substantial movement in its offers," according to the statement.

The latest offer given to the union Thursday will be posted later today on the district website, www.geneva304.org.