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Scarborough teachers rally over contract dispute


The fight is getting some attention from Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders. (Twitter)
The fight is getting some attention from Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders. (Twitter)
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SCARBOROUGH (WGME) – Dozens of teachers are hoping their message is heard loud and clear, after storming a meeting Thursday night in Scarborough.

Outside they rallied and inside they sang, trying to get Scarborough school officials to close the deal on a new contract that teachers say should include a pay raise that acknowledges the work teachers do away from the classroom.

"An average of 20 to 30 hours outside of their regular work week. That is significant," Scarborough Education Association President Krystal Ash-Cuthbert said.

The union president says they are fighting for what's fair compared to other nearby school districts.

"And when we compared ourselves to salaries in those districts, we are the absolute bottom of that pack and our goal is to over three years to be the middle, so our salary proposal is not to even get to the top of that pack it's to be in the middle," Ash-Cuthbert said.

This is the second rally in a month that Scarborough teachers have held, garnering support from parents.

"It's about time we get them what they need," Scarborough parent Bobby Burr said.

And they have support from Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders, who said in a tweet he stands with Maine teachers.

“This is happening across our nation. Across our nation teachers are saying, 'Enough. We can't take anymore. This is killing us,'" Ash-Cuthbert said. “This occupation, this career, this profession is changing and contracts need to change."

Scarborough School Board Chair Leanne Kazilionis released a statement on the matter.

"We had a fact-finding meeting on Dec. 9th. We have good faith disagreements about what should be in the contract and we will look forward to the recommendation from the panel and hope that it will help us reach a settlement."

After trying and failing to get on public comment Thursday night before the board, the teachers left. They now await the decision of the fact finders from last month's meeting. That's expected in a few weeks.

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