KENNEBUNK, Maine — Teachers and faculty members of RSU 21 schools who arrived at Kennebunk High School early Monday morning to attend the district's annual beginning of the year symposium were met by parents and community members who were there to cheer them on.
Although many showed up to support educators who are returning to the district this year, several parents said teachers have constantly turned to them feeling helpless, overwhelmed with uncertainty as they prepare to get back to work without renewed labor contracts, and uneasy about what this school year will bring.
"Right now, they're all in that building without a contract," Melissa McCue-McGrath said.
McCue-McGrath's daughter attends a middle school in the district.
Meetings between the RSU 21 school board and the Kennebunk, Arundel, and Kennebunkport Educators Association (KAKEA) union have been ongoing since November of last year.
"It hurts to know that they're coming to school every day—supporting our children, teaching our children—and they're not feeling secure like they should, like we want our kids to feel," parent Lindsey Clancy said.
With the current teacher contracts set to expire on Aug. 31, Greg Cavanaugh said his wife and other teachers won't have a new contract Monday, and they won't have one when school starts next week.
"At every turn it becomes a little but more disheartening and frustrating," Cavanaugh said. "I hope the money coming into our household to support two kids is more fair for the work my wife is coming in doing every day."
Cavanaugh said teachers in RSU 21 get paid a notable amount less than teachers who work in other districts. He used to teach in the district as well, but he resigned last school year.
Cavanaugh said part of the reason he resigned was because of his issue with low pay, but he explained he believes the leadership and administration fail to properly respond to concerns teachers have and fail to make the necessary changes to improve.
Cavanaugh said there are numerous internal issues in the district, and McCue-McGrath agreed. She said many teachers have told her they are at their wit's end—and so is she.
"Every week we get community a newsletter from our superintendent from central office," McCue-McGrath said, explaining the newsletters provide updates about the district's upcoming events and successes. "But there's been no accountability for the things that have been going incorrectly or the things that have been going tragically wrong in our district."
McCue-McGrath the delay of contract renewals is just one issue in a bucket of many.
She said issues like the district being sued for allegedly not providing proper support for students with disabilities and teacher dissatisfaction with not receiving paid planning time are not addressed or discussed.
The school declined to comment on those matters.
"We cannot comment on any ongoing litigation involving the school district," district communication specialist Matt Shinberg wrote in an email.
NEWS CENTER Maine met with the parent and the guardian involved in the lawsuit to confirm that there is a suit pending.
McCue-McGrath said she believes the district sweeps massive problems that have been ongoing under the rug as if they don't exist.
Concerns about the district losing 37 staff members between April and July of this year have also been downplayed, she said.
According to Shinberg, there are 35 openings on the district's career site, and only two of those openings are classroom teacher positions.
"I can say that we have made great headway in filling the openings throughout the summer thanks to the hard work from our HR department," Shinberg wrote in an email response.
In a previous email response, RSU 21's school board chair Lesley Stoeffler explained that the district is no different from the many schools across the country that are losing educators.
She further added that teachers and administrators have departed from the district for many reasons and noted one of those reasons being the opportunity to receive a more competitive pay.
Stoeffler also wrote that there does not seem to be one singular reason why teachers and administrators are choosing to resign or depart.
But parents like McCue-McGrath and Beth Fossett say they couldn't disagree more. Fossett said she has talked with several staff members who have also clearly stated their disappointment in the way the superintendent and the school board respond to teacher concerns.
Fossett also said the many issues RSU21 is experiencing is nothing like the problems that are occurring in other districts.
She said parents are tired of being gaslit while the district pretends like there are not serious concerns that are being ignored and improperly addressed.
Fossett said she believes teachers are leaving RSU 21 schools because leadership is failing them.
"Stop telling us that this is a national problem," Fossett said, visibly upset. "I'd like for them to focus on our town. our community."
Stoeffler said the district and the teachers' union were unable to reach a contract agreement during the last mediation session on Aug. 22. The next mediation is scheduled for Sept. 16.
"We have offered pay increases for teachers since the beginning of negotiations, and we are proud of those offerings," Shinberg wrote. "They are market-based and competitive, but the pay increases cannot take effect until a new contract is signed."
When the current labor contracts expire Aug. 31, teachers will continue to work under the terms of the current contract until there is agreement on a new one.
Once a new agreement is made, teachers will receive back pay for the difference in pay between the two contracts.
Shinberg wrote that he and everyone else in leadership wants to see teachers receive a pay that is more consistent with their worth.
He also emphasized that administrators are committed to best serving students.
"We are always concerned with providing the best educational experience possible for our students," Shinerg wrote. "They really are our North Star, and everyone—from Central Office to all of the schools—keeps those students in our minds when we show up to work every day."
Shinberg acknowledged the district can improve in various areas that are mapped out in their new strategic plan, which was introduced in June. According to Shinberg, it is grounded by four pillars: increasing student success, having a professional, engaged workforce, strengthening partnerships and relationships, and operational excellence.
To review strategic objectives and action steps the district has said they will implement and take to improve, click here.
Shinberg did not specify say what areas of the strategic plan that the district is struggling in or currently failing to meet.
Shinberg was able to shed light about areas things he believes the district is doing well.
"I arrived here at the district in late April, and since then I have been amazed at just how much everyone here genuinely cares about what they do, and the students. This district is clearly an example for other school districts to follow," he said.