STROUDSBURG -- Nearly 400 teachers in the Stroudsburg Area School District walked off the job Monday morning.
Teachers walked the picket line up and down Main Street in front of the high school. They started around 8:30 a.m. and cleared out just after 11 a.m.
Teachers have been working under the terms of an old contract for nearly two years.
The union also says teachers have not had a raise since 2012.
The main sticking points are salary and health care.
There are 393 teachers in the Stroudsburg Area School District.
Some are picketing at the high school and others are in front of Chipperfield Elementary in Stroud Township.
"This is great unity," said Stroudsburg Area Education Association president Aaron Chapin. "Our members believes that a resolution needs to happen and they all want to be back in the classroom but they are also all willing to come out here and do what needs to be done."
The president of the Stroudsburg Area Education Association says teachers have not had a raise since 2012. The main sticking points are salary and health care.
"It is tough not being there right now but at some point, we had to tell the school board enough is enough," said Chapin.
There are 393 teachers in the Stroudsburg Area School District.
Superintendent Dr. Cosmas Curry hopes the district can find a solution that avoids a large tax hike.
"At the end of the day, I want them back. I want to reestablish the schedules and regimentation and get things back on track for our student sake."
The association tells us teachers are looking for job security and less than a two percent raise. The district says whatever agreement they come to, they don't want it to be a burden on taxpayers.
Parents just want this problem solved soon.
According to association officials, this strike can only last six days.
Tanya Paxson has two children in the district.
"I know it's been a long time since they have had a raise, so I do know, but then it is hard on the parents' end trying to figure out what you're going to do with your kids," said Paxson.
The Stroudsburg Area School district has not had a strike since the mid-1980s.
According to the superintendent, a meeting is scheduled for Tuesday morning to discuss the proposals on the table. There is no school Tuesday in the Stroudsburg Area School District.