Rally set Wednesday to urge Sebring school board to negotiate new pact with teachers

SEBRING — Sebring Local Education Association will have a rally Wednesday to urge a completion of contract negotiations with the district school board.

The rally will be before the school board meets at 5:30 p.m. in front of Sebring McKinley High School. The SLEA has been working without a contract since Aug. 31.

The union said negotiators met only twice during the summer. There have been two sessions since the new school year began. SLEA and the board representatives last met to negotiate last Wednesday.

Heidi Shepherd, SLEA spokeswoman, said, some progress was made last week, and there is another bargaining session scheduled for Sept. 23.

Shepherd said the SLEA has received support from the Sebring community. She added the rally’s purpose is to “urge the board to make it a priority to complete negotiations at the next bargaining session. ... All the teachers are asking for is a fair and equitable contract.”