HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than 1400 days without a working contract, Harrisburg School District teachers decided today would be the perfect time for a fashion statement.
Their choice was far more substance than style.
Teachers donned bright yellow buttons Friday with a lengthy, but they say, extremely important message: "HEA 1400+ days without a contract... STILL HERE FOR THE KIDS."
HEA is the Harrisburg Education Association, led by Jody Barksdale, a math and science teacher at the Rowland School on Derry Street. Nearly 550 Harrisburg School District teachers, she says, have worked on a pay freeze, without a contract, for the last five years. Barksdale wanted to come up with a message which tells the Harrisburg School Board the teachers are ready to continue contract negotiations while relaying to parents their reason why.
"If we can't physically afford to stay here, we can't give back to the kids the way we want to," Barksdale said.
Working on a five-year pay freeze is growing difficult for Harrisburg's teachers, Barksdale added. Many aren't sure how much longer they'll be able to work in the city's school district. Barksdale referenced the city's recent passing of a local services tax, which will take $156 per year out of their paychecks.
"We ultimately care about our kids," Barksdale said. "That’s why we sacrifice our personal lives to be able to come to work every day and do what we need to do for the kids of Harrisburg."
On Friday, she helped hand out the buttons to any teacher who wanted one. The plan is to wear the buttons every day until a contract agreement is reached.
Negotiations have scattered since 2011. Barksdale says the pay freeze was instituted when teachers were told the school district was in danger of closing. There have been four negotiations this school year, including one which came close to a deal, she added, but talks ultimately broke off. The nine-month state budget crisis did not help matters.
Harrisburg School District officials were reached for comment, and provided this written statement:
"We totally understand the Association’s frustration with the fact that the teachers have been without a new salary schedule for a considerable period of time, and the District shares the goal of wanting to have a new long term contract in place before the end of the school year. Most of the 1400 days referenced by the teachers involved negotiations and litigation arising out of the first rendition of the recovery plan between the District and the Pennsylvania Department of Education. That dispute was resolved before the start of the 2015 school year."
Meanwhile, the waiting continues for Jody Barksdale and her colleagues. Matthew Clark, a seventh grade teacher and middle school representative for HEA is feeling frustrated as well.
"It's gone long enough," he says. "Everyone we see needs to hear this message, We’ve been working our butt off how long? We're doing what we can for your kids..."
At that moment, Jody cuts him off.
"Our kids," she interjects, to which Clark replies, "Our kids."