Kids Flee School, Parents Get Fined
NESHAMINY, Pa. - Fox 29 has learned that some middle-school students in the Neshaminy school district left a school briefly on Thursday to protest a work action by teachers.
The kids ran off into the woods and had to be herded back to the school.
But Fox 29 has also learned that each parent will be fined $500 per student by police.
The students have been suspended for violating a "daytime curfew" and were not allowed to return to class.
Students at the Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne, Pa., left their school around 8 a.m. to protest a work-to-contract action by teachers. Groups of students at the school ran away from the buidling into a nearby woods.
Some of the young students "mooned" a Fox 29 video jourrnalist who tried to photograph them.
Then police had to go into the woods to round up the students, because teachers would not act to bring the kids back to class.
Union troubles continue to plague the Neshaminy School District. Teachers there received a letter earlier this week urging them to do the bare minimum wok at school. At issue is a contract that expired almost two years ago.
Fox 29 News had learned students were planning a morning protest at a high school on Wednesday. The original plan, sent out over mass e-mails and text messages, was to walk out after 2nd period and sit in the school stadium.
But that plan was prevented on Wednesday, so students apparently decided to just linger in the hallways and not go to any classes from after third period until the school day ends after 2 p.m.
An 18-year-old senior told Fox 29 she signed herself out and left disgusted.
She said of the teachers, "They're just not doing all the extra things to help out and do stuff. They're just sticking completely to their contract."
Of the protest, she said, "Yeah, they're going to be all in the hallway. So I'm getting kind of mad and stressed, so I'm leaving. I'm 18 and I live on my own, so I signed myself out."
Teachers weren't able to carry out their Wednesday morning weekly protest, either.
Students say the teachers call it a "solidarity circle" around the flagpole before homeroom. It likely wasn't carried out because news cameras were on hand and the superintendent was ordering everybody inside.
"I guess they knew you guys were coming, so they sat in their cars instead of standing outside. I guess they didn't want to look bad," said district bus driver Chuck Torpey.
He added, "Everybody I know is very upset at them, especially standing out there. Even students are upset at them. I'm a bus driver. I want to work for the district. I want to work. I'm willing to sacrifice to keep my job, and I think the teachers should sacrifice a little bit, too."
One thing not in the expired contract teachers are working under right now is what happens if one of them is charged with driving under the influence.
The administration said it has school district lawyers now looking into that after biology teacher Louise Boyd – who just happens to be the president of the teachers' union – was arrested last month in Buckingham Township on driving under the influence and careless driving charges.