TUNKHANNOCK -- It's going to a longer Memorial Day weekend for students in part of Wyoming County.
Teachers in the Tunkhannock Area School District hit the picket line outside the administration building Friday morning.
Union members tell us they had an unofficial agreement with the school board to renew their contract, but board members failed to sign off on the agreement during a meeting Thursday night.
"They like working with students. They want to be in the classroom teaching. That's what they do. I've never met a teacher yet that said, 'I want to walk off the job and go on strike.' This agreement is a fair agreement, a reasonable agreement, and it's an affordable agreement," said PSEA regional field director John Holland.
"We're very disappointed because we would rather be in the classroom than doing this," said Christa Burke, President of the Tunkhannock Area Education Association.
The superintendent's office, along with the school board, declined to go on camera, but did issue the following response: "The district believes that there has been progress at the negotiations table and encourages the Tunkhannock Area Education Association to return to the bargaining table as soon as possible. The district desires to provide to the teachers and the taxpayers a fair, feasible, and equitable agreement."
Parents hope to see a resolution soon given how little time there is left in the school year.
"It's difficult on the kids," said Howard Heice of Tunkhannock. "My kids were so disappointed this morning. They want to be in school. My kids enjoy school."
"The kids have some field trips coming up that they were excited to go on that I'm worried about not happening," said Miranda Geertgens of Tunkhannock. Geertgens' day was completely changed because of the strike. The parent of four, who also babysits, was flooded with calls when the strike was announced.
"Usually most of my kids are in school and I babysit and those kids are also in school," she added. "So I'm down to one kid during the day [usually.] And today, I have nine."
As for how long will this strike last, teacher representatives say they will return to work on Tuesday because the state Department of Education said they don't have any more strike days left if they want to end the school year by June 15.
