Fresno Unified teachers say they're angry

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Teachers say they're angry they still don't have a contract and made sure their chants were heard at the school board meeting.

The Fresno Teachers Association has been in talks with the school district about their contract negotiations for more than a year. And a couple teachers I spoke with say if it comes to it they're prepared to strike.

Inside the FUSD building Wednesday, students received scholarships and awards as families beamed from the packed audience. But at times it was difficult to focus because outside teachers were yelling, honking and chanting for their contracts.

The Fresno Teachers Association and Fresno Unified have been working on a contract for a year. They'll sit down with a fact-finder for a three day session. Both sides tell me this is a final effort in the yearlong negotiation process.

"We have been at the table with FTA for 140 hours and over a year's worth of conversation and we are really looking forward to working with that state appointed fact-finder and coming to an agreement," said FUSD Deputy Supervisor Ruth Quinto.

Quinto says the school board is determined to reach a settlement with the FTA and tonight's protest doesn't change that.

"The school board was completely focused on the accomplishments of the students and the pride and the joy that we could see in their families faces," said Quinto.

Teachers picketed the meeting for hours but the school board never addressed the commotion. Several teachers at the protest tell me if they can't reach an agreement in the coming weeks, they're prepared to go on strike.

"If our district does not give us a fair contract and we need to head that way then that's then that's the way the teachers need to head," said FTA President Eva Ruiz.

"As you see right now we've got big support right now so I think it's looking closer and closer that that's the direction that we could be going," said high school teacher Suzanne Hernandez.