CATAWISSA R.R. - Approximately 35 members of the Southern Columbia Education Association engaged in an off-the-cuff discussion with members of the school board during a meeting Monday night.
The show of force by the teachers, who have been working with a contract that expired June 30, was peaceful, with members speaking their thoughts during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Randy Young, a teacher in the district for 27 years, asked the board how they could justify giving administrators a 3 to 4 percent pay raise, but teachers are being asked to go through a pay freeze.
"We are the ones that are on the front line, in the school every day teaching the children," Young said. "Does anyone have an answer?"
No one on the board replied.
Much of the blame in the district's unsteady financial situation was placed on the Pennsylvania State Employees Retirement System (PSERS) raises in employer contributions since 2009. Southern Columbia's contribution increased by $449,000 last year.
"Until Harrisburg puts a stop to this, its going to get worse," Caputo said.
"Right now, administration, staff and workers, we are all working together to get out of this crunch. We are turning the financial corner, but not fiscally healthy yet," Caputo said.
"You've received word years ago from PSERS that this was coming," teacher Chris Brown said. "If I knew that my mortgage was going up year after year, I'd be working back then to sock some money away to help alleviate this problem."
"The bottom line is that you know you have disgruntled staff members," Young told the board. "Collectively, they are very unhappy. We keep coming back because we love what we do for the students, but we don't like being disrespected as a professional. I've been here 27 years, and I hate being kicked around."
SCEA president Chris Gengler, one of the teachers in attendance, did not comment about the show of solidarity following the meeting. Several teachers leaving the room stated that "they would be back" when the board meets again on Nov. 10.