UPDATED: Northwest R-1 School District prepares for possible school bus workers strike

KSDK -- Parents, students and educators in the Northwest School District are keeping their fingers crossed that school bus drivers and the bus company will reach an agreement.

Representatives from Teamsters Local 610 and the First Student Bus Company met at the Lion's Club in House Springs Wednesday to try and negotiate a contract in an effort to avert a possible strike perhaps as early as Thursday morning.

One teamster official told NewsChannel 5's Sharon Stevens that the union has made a counter offer to the company's last offer with time running out.

A small group of parents gathered on Highway MM, holding signs and urging drivers to honk and show their support of Local 618. Several off-duty bus drivers were also part of the rally.

School district officials notified parents last week that there could be a bus drivers strike if a contract is not negotiated by today. If there is a strike, there would be no bus service, but school will continue to be in session.

Northwest is a sprawling Jefferson County school district, spanning 121 miles. There are 6,500 students in the district and about 6,000 ride buses to and from school.

The district is not part of the negotiations and officials said they're discouraged that after months of talks, there's still no resolution.