The Jay School Committee has yet to resolve the matter of teacher contracts, which have been in negotiations for more than two years. The School Committee has spent more than $65,000 of taxpayer money on the process, which includes money for an high-powered, expensive consultant from Portland.

There were no attempts at settling this matter over the summer so that the negative impact on the school environment would be eliminated.

Morale is at an all-time low. Teachers from all over the system have resigned from many extra-curricula, co-curricula and after-school activities in support of each other during these tense and frustrating times.

Teachers are professionals. They have at least four years of formal education and must continue their education every year to be recertified. In what other profession can a person be paid so little while having such credentials?

Teachers are responsible for molding and instructing future generations. That is a heavy responsibility for what they earn.

The Jay School Committee’s and Superintendent Robert Wall’s lack of respect and support are telling the students and community that teachers do not count.

Negotiations need to continue now, not in November. Let the school committee, the newly hired superintendent and the Jay Education Association do the job they were elected and hired to do – negotiate for the best interest of the town, the students and its teachers.

Diane Berry, Linwood Worster

and Jane DiPompo, Jay