Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media district residents turned out November 17, in support of a salary increase for the teachers employed by the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district. The teachers have been working without a contract since June. “These teachers are here to invest in the future of our children, and it is now your turn to help us invest in the future of our teachers,” parent Jessica O’Connor said during the public comment portion of the meeting. Matthew Miller, president of the RCS Teacher’s Association and a district biology teacher, said, “Our contract expired in June of this year, so we are without a contract right now, but we are trying to work towards a new one... We have been in negotiations since January. For most of the summer, we were at an impasse.” Following months of no activity, the district, its board of education and the union reopened talks last week. A second round of negotiations is expected in early December. “We have another meeting coming up Dec. 7,” Board of Education President Edward Reville said. Numerous parents went to the podium during the board of education meeting, asking that the district agree to a pay hike, the major sticking point in the ongoing contract talks. “We have amazing teachers in this district and if we do not show appreciation and pay them what they deserve, we will see more putting in resignation letters and going to other districts,” parent Chelsea Hildebrandt said. Board president Reville said, “None of us argue with any of you — we agree we do have great teachers.” Read the full story in The Ravena News-Herald.