Push for new contracts from teachers in Mount Vernon grows as negotiations with district continue

Dozens of teachers from the union have been coming out in full force to every single school board meeting in recent weeks.

Melanie Palmer

Jun 5, 2024, 2:16 AM

Updated 94 days ago

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A yearslong battle is continuing to brew in Mount Vernon over how much teachers are getting paid.
"The two sides are far apart," says David Israel with the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers.
Week after week, members of the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers have been coming to school board meetings to get their message across to school leaders. However they say so far, it isn't speeding up contract negotiations.
"Anything we can do to get one step closer to an agreement," says Keith McCall, the President of the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers.
Teachers with the district previously told News 12 that they have been fighting for new contracts with fair wages for more than two years. Dozens of teachers from the union have been coming out in full force to every single school board meeting in recent weeks. They have been speaking up before and during public comment about the need for new contracts.
The regularly scheduled school board meeting planned for Tuesday night was moved to a larger venue than previous meetings. It started at 6:30 p.m. at Graham Elementary School.
District leaders have previously told News 12 contract negotiations are ongoing.
The next meeting between the school board and the Mount Vernon Federation of Teachers is scheduled for June 13.