South Butler School District teachers on Monday continue their strike, which started last Thursday. The teachers decided to picket less and devote some of that time to volunteering in their communities.

JEFFERSON TWP — Instead of grinding out 10 to 12 hours on the picket line at the school campus, the striking South Butler School District teachers are using their time out of the classroom to help their communities.

That's the word from Ian Babb, the South Butler County Education Association president, who said teachers will volunteer wherever needed in the communities where they live.

The negotiating team made the decision to march on Monday and Friday mornings only instead of the constant picket line because long hours of picketing had no impact on the school board's willingness to settle, Babb said.

Several teachers have been through two or more strikes in the district, which has seen five strikes since 1979.

Regarding the teachers' community service, Babb is helping at a church food drive and assisting a new mother with any needs she may have.

Others are also volunteering at their churches, helping neighbors prepare for Easter, performing springtime lawn work for neighbors not able to do so themselves, and donating to local food banks.

“We decided to focus on giving back in the community,” Babb said.

The district's 168 teachers went on strike at 11 a.m. on Thursday and will return to the classroom on April 3 per state Department of Education mandate, so students will receive 180 days of instruction by June 15.

Babb said the striking teachers feel the majority of the district's residents support them, especially the parents.

“We have a big group of parents who understand that a fair and equitable contract is beneficial to the district,” he said.

He said in addition to compensation and health care, the biggest issues for the teachers are the early retirement requirements and tuition reimbursement.

The district offered various pay increases, retroactive annual payments to longtime teachers and other offers in the last few weeks, but only if a contract were signed by the March 15 strike date.

The teachers rejected the offers and went on strike.The district's paraprofessionals and secretaries, who are represented by the Pennsylvania State Education Association, as well as the district's custodians represented by Service Employees International Union, are also without a contract.Tom Breth, the district's negotiator, said the teachers' picketing schedule is no business of the school board members.He said the board members' mindset is that the strike is unfortunate.“They are trying to get through it as quickly as possible and get the students back to school and hopefully complete a process that will result in a new contract with the teachers,” Breth said.The board, at this point, is concentrating on getting students to classes at the Butler County Vocational-Technical School and keeping activities and sports running on schedule.“The board is really focused on making sure those students' needs are met,” Breth said.

South Butler School District teachers picket during the third day of the teachers strike around the Knoch High School on Monday. Teachers are picketing on Mondays and Fridays and volunteering in their communities on other days.