MCKEESPORT — Teachers in a Western Pennsylvania school district will be walking the picket line rather than in the classroom following the breakdown of contract talks.

Officials in the East Allegheny School District said in a statement on the district website that last-ditch talks Friday failed to produce a contract with the East Allegheny Education Association.

The superintendent said on the website that officials remained open to negotiations Monday, but union president Cheryl Ihnat said her side had nothing to offer and she was told the board was not going to change its position.

Both sides said the strike could last longer than two weeks. State law requires students to receive 180 days of instruction.

The school district has 1,700 students and encompasses East McKeesport, North Versailles Township, Wall and Wilmerding.

NEWTOWN — Students and parents gathered at an eastern Pennsylvania school district Monday to mourn three high school sophomores who were killed in an SUV crash.The three Council Rock High School South students who died in Saturday morning's crash were 15-year-old Ryan Lesher, of Churchville, 15-year-old Shamus Digney, of Holland, and Cullen Keffer, whose age and hometown weren't released.The crash happened in Paupack Township, Wayne County, about 100 miles north of Philadelphia. Three other people were hurt.“Council Rock offers its sincere condolences to the families of these students and to all who are grieving this terrible loss,” Superintendent Mark Klein said in a notice on the district's website.The school, which provided counselors, remained open on Labor Day “to allow for our school community to grieve,” officials said. Classes were to be held today as scheduled.Principal Robert Funk called the deaths a devastating loss to the community.