Local teachers work for new contract as school year nears

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (WKBN)- East Palestine Schools and its teachers union will meet again at the negotiating table to work on a new contract.

The East Palestine Education Association reached out to the East Palestine City Schools Board of Education to begin negotiating in early March. The Board eventually agreed to an initial bargaining date of May 1.

Negotiations have continued since then. A federal mediator was called in to assist in the process beginning July 18. In a release from the union, they state the following:

“When the new school year starts, we want nothing more than to be with our students in safe learning environments, giving them the best education possible and ensuring all students have the individualized support they need to reach their full potential. The board must deliver a fair contract that achieves those aims.”

On Tuesday, the two parties will meet again, hoping to reach a fair contract agreement soon.
The first day of classes is 2 weeks away.

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