Photos by Carri Graham Members of the community hold up signs in support of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District’s teachers during a Thursday rally outside the Monroe County Courthouse in Woodsfield. The teachers’ union is negotiating a new contract with the board of education.

Photos by Carri Graham
Members of the community hold up signs in support of the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District’s teachers during a Thursday rally outside the Monroe County Courthouse in Woodsfield. The teachers’ union is negotiating a new contract with the board of education.

WOODSFIELD — About 200 people marched to the Switzerland of Ohio Local Board of Education office in Woodsfield on Thursday to show support for the district’s teachers as they negotiate a new employment contract.

The Switzerland of Ohio Education Association held a community rally Thursday evening that began at the Monroe County Courthouse and made its way to the board’s central office. Dozens of residents and students held handmade signs up expressing support for the district’s teachers. Some who did not attend the rally showed support by waving and honking their horns as they drove by.

Karissa Wooddell, spokeswoman for the SOEA, said the union members hoped the rally would help speed up negotiations toward a new contract and avoid a teachers’ strike early next year.

“We have high hopes we’ll be able to reach a fair contract agreement that’s going to support our students’ futures,” Wooddell said. “The main goal in all of this is to reach a fair contract agreement that protects the health and safety of our students and our staff.”

Teachers are now working under the terms of the union’s 2017-2020 contract, which expired in August. Under that agreement, annual base pay for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree is now $31,681 following three pay raises over the life of that contract. Teachers earn more with each year of experience and for taking additional college courses. For example, a teacher with three years’ experience and a master’s degree would be paid $40,077 a year.

The board has said it offered the union a 15 percent salary increase over the next three years. That would make the starting base pay $36,433 by the end of the proposed contract.

Wooddell said in addition to a salary increase, some other sticking points include insurance, sick days/personal leave time, remote learning language and provisions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“At this time, there has not been a tentative agreement reached on any bargaining issues,” she said.

Many people and organizations turned out to support the teachers at the rally, including other local unions, parents and students. John Weiss, president of Barnesville Association of Classified Employees that represents non-teaching staff within Barnesville schools, said the SOEA supported his union when it was in the midst of contract negotiations in the past, and his membership plans to do the same in return.

“They showed up for us, and we’re here to return the favor for them. Anything we can do to help, that’s what we’re here for — to show support,” he said.

Jake Rose, 17, a student at River High School, said he came to the event to support all the teachers in the district. He said the teachers deserve pay raises for all that they do.

Halli Marty, a parent of two River Elementary students, said the teachers support their students each day and deserve a fair contract to continue to do so.

“Our teachers are who encourage our kids every day and who are with our kids every day. If they are not treated with respect, how are our kids supposed to grow?” she said.

Randy Williams, a former school teacher, said he attended to support the teachers and students, who could both be affected if a new contract is not reached.

“What the teachers are asking for, from what I am hearing, they are asking for very little. They should be treated fairly. … I just hope they can sit down and get something worked out to benefit everyone in the county,” he said.

Wooddell said the SOEA is thankful for the community’s support, especially since Switzerland of Ohio is the largest school district in the state in terms of geography.

“It’s fantastic to see so many people coming from all over,” she said. “This isn’t a small district, it’s an hour drive or more. It’s just amazing. We’re very, very thankful for all the support we’re receiving. This isn’t just SOEA, it’s the community standing out here.”