Members of the Tussey Mountain Education Association gathered outside the school board office Monday night.

The teachers union presented research that showed the board their salaries are not competitive with neighboring school districts.

“We just want to be comparable,” Eva Sichko, President of the Tussey Mountain Education Association, said. “We’re not asking to be number one. We just want to fit in line with the trends around the county and that’s what we’re asking for. Our main goal is to not go on strike. We want to be in the classroom every day. We want to be with these children. The students and their education are our first priority.”

School leaders said they understand the concerns and are still working on a resolution with the association, but also recognize the budget problems within the district.

“It’s not like we’re sitting on a pile of cash and have nothing to do with it,” Robin Binder Heath, solicitor for the board, said. “We have plenty of work to do around the district, which is not to say we’re not appreciative of the information presented. We are hoping that negotiations will continue and a strike can be avoided.”

Until then, the group said enough is enough and they’re ready to see the region invest in education.

“We just want the best education for our students that we can get and that begins with a fair contract,” Sichko said.

Earlier in October, the association voted that they’re willing to go on strike if they can’t reach a fair contract.

A date for negotiations has not yet been set.

The teachers union has 81 spots and all 81 district members joined, which means if there is a strike, it would completely shut down the school.