When Ohio University junior and elementary education major Kate Finger set her Fall Quarter schedule, she expected to be observing classes in Athens City Schools. Instead, she may have to make weekend trips to fulfill her field experience requirement.

In the past, education majors like Finger have gone to Athens City Schools to observe teachers in action. OU students traditionally get classroom time both during their required field experience class and as student teachers.

But the Athens City School District wants more money from Ohio University

for the Winter and Spring Quarters to pay the districts' teachers for supervising OU education majors.

Glenn Doston, associate dean of the College of Education, said the dean of the college still is negotiating with area superintendents to reach an agreement. As a result, Finger might have to travel home to Cincinnati to fulfill her field experience requirement at Little Miami High School.

"It's really sad that OU can give money for raises for (President Robert) Glidden, but we have to drive an hour away to student teach because the College of Education doesn't have enough money," she said.

Any student placed in the Athens district prior to Fall Quarter will student

teach this quarter, said Bonnie Beach, assistant dean in the College of Education.

But field experience students, who observe classes and might teach a lesson, are not assigned to classrooms prior to the quarter, and their status is in question, she said.

Athens City School District and Ohio University must reach an agreement before OU students enrolled in the field experience course can teach in the district, Beach said.

Alan Kalis, an Athens High School art teacher who has been with the district for more than 20 years, said OU needs to increase pay to Athens classroom teachers.

"They have enough money to make improvements to Peden Stadium. They can afford to pay more," he said.

Other OU students affected by the dispute said having to gain classroom experience outside of Athens would create problems.

Senior Amanda Boyd, an elementary education major, said student teaching outside of Athens County will be inconvenient and costly.

"I think it's ridiculous that I now have to drive an hour away for field experience class," she said. "I'm going to have to pay for gas money, too."

Boyd said she also has to drop an 8 a.m. class to reach her field experience class in time.

Senior Jon Hammond, a secondary education major, said he understands the Athens City School district's need for more money from OU and blames the university for the dispute.

Junior Gail Wickert, a secondary education major, said she is disappointed because OU student teachers will be forced to travel outside of Athens.

"I don't want to have to drive four hours home to Cleveland and take a quarter off OU for my student teaching experience," she said.