Every three years, a new contract is made between the school board and the teachers at Boothbay Region Elementary and High schools.

These contracts cover the agreement between the teachers and the board including wages, benefits, hours, leave polices, and more.

Last August, that contract expired.

Since then, due to an impasse between the union and board, the teachers have been working under their old contract. According to school committee member John Bertolet, salaries and benefits, such as insurance, are at the heart of this impasse.

Teachers in the Boothbay Region Educators Association (the local union affiliated with the Maine Educators Association) have been attending meetings of the school committee to express their need for this issue to be resolved as quickly as possible.

At the most recent meeting on Jan. 28, three teachers spoke about why they became teachers and why they needed a new contract. They included what they spent their days doing as educators, which often goes far beyond the normal school day.

“My students make me laugh, they show me kindness, they ask great questions, and yes, sometimes they even drive me crazy,” said Karol Clark, who teaches Spanish at BRHS. “The teachers in this building are those caring individuals who deserve to be treated with the respect and salaries they deserve.”

BRHS freshman English and digital literacy teacher Tanya Hammond said that as a teacher, she faces challenges every day. “I give it my best, I choose to be a teacher. I believe in return I should receive a contract ensuring just compensation and benefits,” Hammond said.

Kathy Hartley, who teachers fourth grade at Boothbay Region Elementary School, talked about how many hours she and other teachers put into their day.

“When I come in early every morning after a 5:30 a.m. swim, leave every day generally between 5 and 6 p.m., and come in on one weekend day every week, I am well above my contracted requirements,” Hartley said. “I do appreciate when I hear from the school committee that you appreciate all we do, but verbal appreciation is not enough. We have been working without a contract.

“Hence, simply stated, in addition to your verbal appreciation, my colleagues and I need a contract.”

According to Superintendent Eileen King, there is a formal process to follow in situations such as these. The board and union start with mediation, and if no agreement is reached, a fact-finding commission of three people is sent by the Maine Labor Board. These people spend one month researching the situation and report their finding to both the board and teachers. After this, the two groups go back into negotiations.

Current President of BREA Mark Gorey, said that a fact-finding executive session has been scheduled for Feb. 3.

“We have confidence it's going to work out into a positive thing for the teachers as well as the community and school,” Board Chairman Larry Colcord said.

The board's next meeting will be Feb. 11 in the BRHS library at 6 p.m. The public is welcome to attend.