Teachers’ rally, draw crowd over expired contract
ADAMS TWP — Over 100 Mars Area School District teachers lined up outside the administration building, stood with picket signs along Route 228 and packed a school board meeting Tuesday, July 28, offering a visible response to stalled negotiations as a contract dispute drags on.
With the upcoming school year less than a month away, teachers rallied with community members and a handful of teachers from other districts as they called for “a fair agreement,” including higher built-in salary increases and a longer health insurance coverage plan than the district has proposed.
“Your presence sends a powerful message that our schools do matter,” Hollie Meckler, high school teacher and president of the Mars Area Education Association, told teachers during the board meeting. “Today marks 28 days the Mars Area teachers are without a contract. Teaching is a profession. It requires advanced degrees, state certifications, ongoing professional learning and a deep commitment to students we serve.
“Like other professions, teachers deserve to be treated with respect and have a fair contract that recognizes the importance of their work.”
The previous contract between the district and the Mars Area Education Association, which represents the teachers, ended at the end of June. Over the past year, the union and the district’s negotiating team have reportedly met over 20 times, with no collective bargaining agreement reached.
In recent weeks, the union has called on teachers to “stand together” in an effort to use the board meeting as an opportunity to rally support for the district’s teachers.
Meanwhile, the district’s representatives have asked for a fact-finding process with a neutral third party, according to district solicitor Mike Hnath. A hearing is scheduled for next month.
“As summer continues, our teachers are preparing for another school year and looking forward to welcoming our students back to school. They should not have to do so while still wondering when they will have a fair, equitable contract,” Meckler said.
Differing stances between the district and the MAEA’s negotiating teams include what annual salary increases, health insurance coverage and the length of the overall contract should look like.
“They (the teachers) feel strongly, but I would also say we’re hoping to get it resolved. I think they see what others in the same profession in nearby districts are compensated, and they just want to be treated fairly,” Joe Graff, vice president of the MAEA and a middle school teacher, said Tuesday evening.
Teachers wanted to be present when board members showed up for the meeting Tuesday night, hoping they would witness the sea of red shirts and signs with phrases like “Rock Star Teachers Work Here,” “Teaching made your job possible” and “Teachers” printed on a Superman logo.
“It’s a pretty great turnout, especially when we have so many people on vacation,” Meckler said. “We’re going to stand here so they have to see everyone, because oftentimes they’ll try to sneak in the back entrance. We just want them to see we’re all here and united.”
Teachers at the rally stressed the importance of standing together as negotiations continue.
“We’re unified and we just want to stand with the community and show our solidarity,” said Greg Wilson, Mars Area middle school teacher and MAEA’s secretary.
The issue of salaries and healthcare were frequently cited by teachers as their biggest concerns.
“I think we’re here to support each other and try to achieve a fair contract. It’s been 28 days. We’re just trying to show solidarity with one another,” said Emily Mehring, a teacher at Mars Area Middle School. “Salaries and healthcare are the two main issues on the table right now.”
Some teachers said they get a sense of frustration and confusion from their co-workers, seeing them as unsure whether to trust the school board.
“I think the teachers are disappointed and they were hoping the district would make wiser choices before this point but apparently that hasn’t happened,” Meckler said. “At this point, I think a lot of them are angry and I don’t feel like many of them are very hopeful, which is unfortunate.
“Anger and disappointment are the two biggest feelings.”
Teachers expressed a desire to see the dispute eventually resolved, rather than dragging issues into the school year. The word “fair” was used often.
“We just want a fair contract. That’s what we want” said Mike DelDuca, a Mars Area High School teacher.
Community members who showed up to support the rallying teachers pointed to their role in shaping students, preparing them for the future.
“The board’s role is the success of all students. And we are here with a bunch of people that also have that same goal,” Jarrod Clark, a Mars Area School District resident, told the board. “We’re here to support them and their efforts for a fair contract. There’s a big turnout here and we want to show you guys that not only is this important to the public, but also to the teachers.”
Several board members spoke after the public comment portion of Tuesday night’s meeting, recognizing the community’s support for its schools and the hard work of generations of teachers.
A deeper look at contract issues can be found here.
