The word on contract talks between the Jim Thorpe Education Association and the school district's board of directors is that negotiations are ongoing, but frustration from both sides surfaced Thursday night.

During the district's annual reorganization meeting, board Vice President Robert Schaninger addressed a handful of teachers in the audience wearing black and white shirts asking for a fair deal.The two sides have been in contract negotiations for almost two years."The last couple meetings the board has expressed compliments to you and you have sat there like bumps on a log," Schaninger said."I think that shows a lack of class. I take the shirts as a sign of bullying. If you come to the meetings, kindly participate. I believe we'll make progress on this contract and it will take both sides getting together."JTEA President David Marino said the teachers don't come to the meeting with an agenda, and they wear the shirts as a sign of solidarity."Mr. Schaninger demonstrated perfectly what the teachers face at every negotiating session," Marino said. "That is the type of attitude we face at bargaining table. It makes things much harder when you name call."Marino said the group would continue to attend board meetings."We're not going anywhere," he said. "Over the summer we were forgotten about and the negotiating team was not willing to meet for five months. That is why we chose this method."A clear divide in attitude toward the teachers was present as board member William Allison thanked the group for their attendance."I appreciate work you've done," he said. "I can see the high standards our students are achieving at this point and thank you for your work."Even after district solicitor Gregory Mousseau advised the board to end the meeting and stop discussing the matter, it continued."I just want to let you know Mr. Schaninger doesn't speak for the board," fellow board member Gerald Strubinger told the teachers. "His comments are his own comments."Two other board members, Pearl Downs-Sheckler and Glenn Confer, both said rumors were spread that they spoke out against retaining janitors in the district."That never came out of my mouth," Downs-Sheckler said."They are an important part of our school and our personality. I don't ever want people putting words in my mouth."Confer was also angry that the words were attributed to him."If someone has a problem with something, call me," he said."Don't go out and say things I never said."As for the board's reorganization, Dennis McGinley and Schaninger retained their seats as president and vice president, respectively.Mousseau will also stay on as solicitor.Board meetings will remain the second Monday of the month.