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Striking Line Mountain Teachers Serve Lunch Instead of Picketing

UPDATE — According to the district, students will return to class on Friday. Teachers and the district have agreed to enter into mediation in order to try...
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UPDATE -- According to the district, students will return to class on Friday. Teachers and the district have agreed to enter into mediation in order to try to reach a new contract.

TREVORTON -- The teachers strike continues in the Line Mountain School District in Northumberland County and instead of walking the picket lines, some teachers served lunch to students in the district.

The teachers in the Line Mountain School District are doing community service projects during the strike.  Wednesday's project was preparing and serving lunch to students in Trevorton.

Instead of spending time inside the elementary school in Trevorton, teachers in the Line Mountain School District were across the street at United Methodist Church putting together bagged lunches.

"We've got a sandwich. We've got fruit and vegetables, a snack, some healthier chips, and a bottle of water," Tara Deljanovan said.

Instead of walking the picket line, striking teachers are doing community service projects.  Earlier this week, they volunteered at the SPCA and the Ronald McDonald House.

The latest project involved making around 100 bagged lunches.

"Many of the families in our district are on the lower income scale, and for some of our students, the only meal they can really depend on is breakfast or lunch at the school," Deljanovan said.

As of noon, fewer than half of the lunches had been picked up.   Parents we spoke with just want the strike to end.

"The teachers need to get back to class, get these kids moved on to their next grades and their future and things need to get moving here in town, in the school district," John Reidinger said.

"I agree that they need a raise and that not having a contract for so long is kind of uncalled for, I guess.  But then I feel bad for the kids because I know I wouldn't want to go to school until like June," Kristin Myers said.

Teachers in Line Mountain went on strike near the beginning of the school year. This second strike started about a week ago.  Now John Reidinger says his teenage son won't be able to keep his summer job.

"It's a learning experience for the kids and it all comes back to the kids not having a summer vacation," Reidinger said.

Line Mountain School District officials told Newswatch 16 both sides are working hard to get the kids back to school.

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