The Prince William Education Association has endorsed a “work to the rule” campaign protesting salary freezes that began this week. The action could affect after-school activities depending on how many teachers join.

The association has about 4,000 members out of 10,000 county school teachers and staff. It’s unclear how many members will choose to join the “work to the rule” protests, however.

Bonnie Klakowicz, the president of the association, had previously expressed concern about potential negative consequences from the campaign, which would mean teachers work solely their contract hours, between 7:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.

The campaign is meant to highlight how much teachers do outside school and contract hours, but could potentially backfire if parents and students don’t endorse the campaign.

But Klakowicz said now that the membership had endorsed the campaign, teachers will do what’s required and act professionally.

“As long as they do what’s expected of them in their contracts I don’t see any negative reaction,” Klakowicz said.

The campaign is meant to gain the attention of the School Board and Board of County Supervisors as both bodies deliberate next year’s proposed budget. The education association also urged teachers to write letters to supervisors and attend county meetings.

Teachers held a “grade-in” at Tuesday’s Board of County Supervisors meeting — where teachers graded papers and did work while supervisors held their meeting. Klakowicz is urging teachers to continue to attend School Board and BOCS meetings.

The average teacher salary in Prince William was $59,367 in the last fiscal year, according to a Washington Area Boards of Education report. That’s less than the city of Manassas, Fairfax and Loudoun counties, but more than Manassas Park.

Promised “step” increases — a pay scale that goes up the longer teachers are in county classrooms — have not been provided in recent years, leading to teachers’ frustration at what they view as a prolonged pay freeze.

The school’s long-term budget also does not provide for those increases over the next three fiscal years.