It’s October, and South Portland teachers are still showing up every day—committed, passionate, and putting students first. But they’re doing it without a contract.

Since March, teachers in South Portland have been negotiating for basic fairness: the right to take care of their families, to know their jobs are secure, and to stay healthy while doing one of the most important jobs in our community. Yet months of closed-door negotiations have gone nowhere, and now, more than a month into the school year, our educators are still waiting.

At the October 2nd school board meeting, over 100 teachers filled the lecture hall, lining the walls in red shirts and holding signs like “Still Teaching, Still Waiting.” That’s because this isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about the real human cost of delay. Teachers are being forced to work second jobs, skip medical care, and live with uncertainty over layoffs, all while continuing to support our kids every day.

This contract should have been settled last spring. Since then, district leadership has changed hands multiple times, further delaying the process. But the students haven’t stopped coming to class—and the teachers haven’t stopped showing up for them.

We, the undersigned, call on the South Portland School Board and Interim Superintendent George Entwistle to finalize a fair contract immediately—one that includes:

• Clear protections for health and safety
• Fair and humane leave policies
• Job security that respects years of service
• And back pay to cover the months teachers have worked without an agreement

Teachers are the backbone of our public schools. When we value them, we value our children. South Portland deserves better than delay tactics and silence.

Let’s stand with our educators—sign this petition to demand action from the school board now.

Photo: Daryn Slover/Portland Press Herald