Andover teachers say they are “tremendously hopeful” that they will be reaching a contract agreement with the School Committee by the end of the day.

The state Department of Labor Relations granted the Andover Education Association a 2-hour extension for the union to finalize a contract with the School Committee, delaying what could be a $60,000 fine to the state, a source told the Herald just after 3 p.m.

An Essex County Superior Court judge on Monday ordered the union pay a $50,000 fine to the state for failing to end its strike by Monday evening. In Massachusetts, teachers strikes are illegal.

The judge ruled that the fine would keep going up $10,000 each day until the strike ends. Each new fine was to be assessed at 3 p.m., a deadline that loomed before the union received the extension this afternoon.

Around 100 teachers rallied in front of the State House earlier today, calling on Gov. Maura Healey and the state Legislature to support them during their strike which has reached its fifth day, closing school three times.

“We are tremendously hopeful that we can get this done today and that we can get back to school tomorrow,” AEA Vice President Lauren McCarron told reporters. “All of my colleagues standing behind me today, that’s where we belong, that’s where we want to be. Our number one concern is our students and wrapping this up as quickly as we can so we can get back to where we belong.”

The union stated in a Facebook post Monday night that fines would “completely deplete its cash reserves, built through membership dues. McCarron, however, said she and her colleagues are not intimidated by the penalties.

“We know that there’s a financial risk here for us,” she said, “but we also know we have been shown tremendous support from other locals in the state. We know this is part of the process, and we were expecting it.”

Through negotiations, Andover educators have cited priorities of teacher and instructional assistant pay, paid parental and family leave, protections for prep time and longer lunch and recess periods for the youngest learners.

The continued sticking point in negotiations, the union said, has been pay for teachers and instructional aides.