SCARBOROUGH – Both sides say they hope negotiations can resume soon.

The contract for teachers in the Scarborough public schools expired Aug. 31, and negotiating teams for the teachers’ union and the Board of Education have not met since the spring.

However, both sides said they hope to talk again soon and come to a resolution.

“It’s an issue because it hurts morale,” said Brian Dell’Olio, chairman of the School Board and a member of the board’s negotiations committee. “It just isn’t a healthy thing for anybody.”

Paul Ledman, a history teacher and lead negotiator for the Scarborough Education Association, said there has been “a pause” in formal negotiations since the spring, but he said he expects the two sides will meet again soon.

Both sides declined to discuss specifics in the negotiations.

Dell’Olio said there are “variety of reasons” why agreement hadn’t been reached by the expiration of the teachers’ three-year contract at the end of August. Pressures on Scarborough schools because of the economic downturn are a factor, he said.

Ledman said there are larger philosophical issues dividing the two sides.

“The real thing this has to do with is underfunding,” he said. “It’s not just about salaries.”

He said Scarborough teachers are among the lowest paid in the area. He also said Scarborough spends less per student than most other Portland-area school districts.

According to statistics from the school department, the $9,724.03 that Scarborough spends a year per pupil is less than the state’s recommended average of $10,657.59.

Ledman said the low rate of spending means that Scarborough has larger classes and more limited curriculum offerings than surrounding communities.

He said Scarborough schools have dedicated teachers and a good reputation. However, he said, “they have to fund the schools better. They can’t rely on reputation.”

Kate Bolton, business office manager for Scarborough schools, said, “We spend less because we have less to spend.”

School budgets are lean to keep Scarborough taxes low, she said.

And Bolton said that the schools have low administrative costs, putting most of their spending into the classroom.

The Scarborough Education Association represents about 300 employees, including teachers and other personnel, such as guidance counselors.

Dell’Olio said the School Board is also negotiating contracts with other school staff, including building administrators, bus drivers and custodians and food service workers. Contracts for those groups also expired this summer, he said.

This is the not the first time that Scarborough teachers have been without a contract through the years, Dell’Olio and Ledman said.

“It happens,” Ledman said. “But nobody likes it.”