CBS12 News Team

PSL teacher negotiations: Are students missing out?

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Teachers are fighting for a new contract and raise, promising only to do the bare minimum. Now parents are raising concerns about the students missing out. They promised to put in their 8 hours and nothing more. A canceled class trip, a school dance, and play, all end of year traditions moved or canceled due to teacher contract negotiations with the school board.

The school passed the FCAT, and today had graduation on time, but there's a lot of end of year activities the students didn't experience.

A rite of passage for Morningside Elementary students graduate from 5th grade. But the last month they missed out on traditions.

Marianne Komar/ parent: They didn't get to go to Epcot.

The 5th graders watched as contract negotiations canceled their class trip, with teachers holding the line, and refusing to work extra hours unpaid.

Maureen Dakin:There was no Epcot, no dance, and there was supposed to be a play and they made performances during the day instead of nighttime.

Teacher and parent Maureen Dakin, says it was a lesson for the students, not meant to hurt them.

Maureen Dakin: I think its a shame and I hope it doesnt continue on. I hope there can be some arrangement in the future because really, whether it be teacher, school board, parent, it really is about the kids.

And the students were upset. They love Epcot.

Victoria Wolfmueller/student: A little, because I was looking forward to it all year.

But the teachers did explain why this was happening.

Victoria Wolfmueller/student: Because the teachers needed to stick to their contract and that they cant have after school field trips after their hours.

The teachers union promised this tactic would not affect students. But parents say it already is. Some students are upset by a canceled class trip, but others say it makes them support the union's mission for a raise even more.

Victoria Wolfmueller/student: They do so much to teach us and we learn so much.

So these 5th graders learn a final lesson...in economics.

But this is not up to the kids, the district, or the parents, in the end it's about the school board approving the teachers new contract this summer.

The school did hold the 5th grade dance and reschedule the play, but it was held during school hours, while teachers were paid to be in class. The board votes on the new contract this summer.

Thursday, June 7 2012, 09:31 PM EDT

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