It was the longest running contract dispute in the state but now it appears to be over.
Tuesday night a tentative agreement was reached between the Northwest Area School District and the teachers union.
The two groups have been trying to reach a contract agreement since August, 2005. The main sticking points were wages and health care.
Now many people in the district are glad there seems to be a resolution.
"The Northwest School District and the teachers' association reached a tentative agreement. After four years of bargaining, both sides are happy that it's over," said Matt Gruenloh of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
The district and teachers in the Shickshinny area had been battling over wages and health care.
Teachers went on strike for nearly three weeks in November and wanted to strike again in June but a judge ordered both sides to keep bargaining.
They reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night.
School board president Pete Lanza said, "We're glad it's over but there are still doubts in my mind as to the affordability."
The chief negotiator for the teachers' union is satisfied.
"It's actually nice to put the situation behind us and move forward to healing some of the wounds that have been opened up over the last few years," Gruenloh added.
Students and parents agree, saying the past year has been tough.
"I'm really glad it's going to be resolved because we were out so long with the strike," said junior Kyla Hennigan. "I know it's messed up a lot of schedules for sports and camps. I know it will definitely be great if we can resolve this."
"I'm hoping that it will benefit all of us, meaning the kids, the teachers, the families, the taxpayers, everybody that's been fighting for a decent agreement for the past several years," said parent Denise Maurer.
Those in the area said an agreement has been a long time coming.
"I hope that it settles everything so that everybody can be happy and move forward and get our kids going in the right direction again," Maurer added.
"Teachers want what they want. The school district only wants to give them what they want, so I'm glad they were finally able to compromise," said Jamie O'Rourke.
Representatives with the school district and the teachers union plan to meet later this week to put the tentative agreement into writing. Both sides will then vote on the contract in the coming weeks.
There is word of an agreement in a district also hit by a teachers' strike this past school year.
Teachers and the school board in the Lake Lehman School District reached the tentative agreement at around 4 a.m. Wednesday. They will also vote on the contract in the next few weeks.
Tuesday night a tentative agreement was reached between the Northwest Area School District and the teachers union.
The two groups have been trying to reach a contract agreement since August, 2005. The main sticking points were wages and health care.
Now many people in the district are glad there seems to be a resolution.
"The Northwest School District and the teachers' association reached a tentative agreement. After four years of bargaining, both sides are happy that it's over," said Matt Gruenloh of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.
The district and teachers in the Shickshinny area had been battling over wages and health care.
Teachers went on strike for nearly three weeks in November and wanted to strike again in June but a judge ordered both sides to keep bargaining.
They reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night.
School board president Pete Lanza said, "We're glad it's over but there are still doubts in my mind as to the affordability."
The chief negotiator for the teachers' union is satisfied.
"It's actually nice to put the situation behind us and move forward to healing some of the wounds that have been opened up over the last few years," Gruenloh added.
Students and parents agree, saying the past year has been tough.
"I'm really glad it's going to be resolved because we were out so long with the strike," said junior Kyla Hennigan. "I know it's messed up a lot of schedules for sports and camps. I know it will definitely be great if we can resolve this."
"I'm hoping that it will benefit all of us, meaning the kids, the teachers, the families, the taxpayers, everybody that's been fighting for a decent agreement for the past several years," said parent Denise Maurer.
Those in the area said an agreement has been a long time coming.
"I hope that it settles everything so that everybody can be happy and move forward and get our kids going in the right direction again," Maurer added.
"Teachers want what they want. The school district only wants to give them what they want, so I'm glad they were finally able to compromise," said Jamie O'Rourke.
Representatives with the school district and the teachers union plan to meet later this week to put the tentative agreement into writing. Both sides will then vote on the contract in the coming weeks.
There is word of an agreement in a district also hit by a teachers' strike this past school year.
Teachers and the school board in the Lake Lehman School District reached the tentative agreement at around 4 a.m. Wednesday. They will also vote on the contract in the next few weeks.
