This story was posted at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 17. It will also appear in the Jan. 23 issue of the Pine Creek Journal.

Hampton Township School District teachers once again turned out for the Hampton school board meeting last week.

It has been one year since the teachers and administrators have started negotiations for a new contract, said Alisa Murray, president of the Hampton Township Education Association.

The teachers’ contract expired on June 30, 2007. The approximately 225 teachers it covers have been working without a contract since then.

Murray said the teachers felt it was a good time to mobilize again because there was a lull during the holidays. Now that school is in session and everyone is back in focus, Murray said she wants people to know that the teachers are still unhappy about the lack of progress.

“We think this board can do better,” Murray said.

The two sides haven’t met since Dec. 11. Both are waiting for the next bargaining session to be scheduled by a state mediator.

The teachers authorized in November of 2007 for their leaders to call a strike if they deem it necessary. Murray said the next bargaining session will be a good indicator of what their next move will be.

“We’re very comfortable with everything we have proposed to the board,” she said. “We really feel the ball is in their court.”

Board president Dr. Harold Sarver said he was pleased to see the teachers turn out for the meeting.

“It’s their right and privilege to do so,” Sarver said. “I’d much rather have them here voicing their concerns than not here.”

Sarver said the board was anxiously awaiting the next bargaining session in hopes of settling the contract dispute.