MONROE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- Just days after hundreds of teachers protested a stipend increase that fell short of expectations, the Union County Board of Education are pointing fingers at county leadership.

The “Sick Out” that was held Wednesday with educators staying home – and/or going to picketing at the district headquarters – came after a $1,000 stipend was allotted for the school year after one for $2,0000 was approved with by the school board in May.

For their overall budget, they requested a $14.6 million increase from the Board of County Commissioners, but say that only $8.8 million was approved.

The school board’s chairman, the Rev. Jimmy Bention, expressed his disappointment in the commissioners' communication in a letter to county chair Melissa Merrell Friday night.

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