Each side in the Karns City School District's teacher-contract stalemate needs to step back and re-examine its stance in regard to the elusive pact.

At the same time, the two sides should reflect on the issue of school district morale and the possible unrest that could result over time, should the situation reach the point of district residents choosing sides.

It's unsettling that the teachers have been working without a new contract this year; they have been working under the terms of a contract that expired last June 30. But it will not be in the teachers' best interests if the public perception becomes that the teachers are being unreasonable and unbending in their demands.

The old theory that the best contract is one in which neither side achieves all of its demands applies to what is happening at Karns City. Both sides will have to compromise to achieve an acceptable middle ground, and that means neither side should have bragging rights about achieving a one-sided victory.

And, with more than a year of negotiations under their belts, this is long past the time when either side should be putting forth new demands that risk throwing the contract negotiations into a new tier of disarray.

The union reportedly has made new demands.

With no strike on the immediate horizon, district residents should be content to allow the situation to play out further, without criticizing the stance of either side. However, district residents should stay informed regarding negotiations developments or the lack thereof.

It's encouraging that Ken McConnell, president of the Karns City Education Association, is willing to say that "we've never said we're not willing to move (on salary)." But there is another message from union negotiators' unwillingness to take the district's most recent offer to the full union membership for a vote, considering that the district increased its salary offer.

It is the two sides' responsibility to hammer out a contract. No one outside the negotiations process has a full grasp of the issues involved in the drawing up of a new pact and therefore has no grounds for trying to influence specifics of the talks.

However, the lack of a contract could eventually affect students and families adversely if the situation deteriorates further, so it is right for district residents not to ignore what's happening.

Meanwhile, both sides must acknowledge that divisive negotiations that eventually result in a strike oftentimes have negative morale ramifications for years after the dispute has been settled.

"So for right now, we're at an impasse," said Tom King, district solicitor. He said no new talks were as yet scheduled.

He described the district's latest proposal as the "best and final offer."

McConnell said he is looking forward to new talks, but he didn't indicate that the teachers were ready yet to deviate markedly from their current stance.

Therefore, with the end of the school year looming, the district could be facing uncertainty over what the summer and start of 2005-06 classes might hold. That's unfortunate.

In the days ahead, a greater-than-ever attempt must be made to close the gap between the two sides' positions, keeping in mind the people who pay the district's bill - the taxpayers. If that doesn't happen, both sides will have to share the blame for whatever evolves.

Karns City prides itself on providing a good education for district children. That effort - the main goal of any school district - must not be compromised by adults' inability to forge a mutually acceptable understanding.

And one other point: The contract shouldn't be about what other school districts have negotiated, to their betterment or detriment. It should be about what is fair and affordable for Karns City - and which is consistent with the district's high standards.

That is a huge responsibility that is likely to become increasingly elusive, the longer the impasse persists.