Youngstown school district, union reach deal; classes start Monday
Youngstown school district, teachers union mum on details
Trending
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Youngstown Board of Education and the Youngstown Education Association reached a tentative agreement Saturday afternoon that would end the district's weekslong teacher strike.
According to a statement provided by district spokeswoman Stacy Quinones, with the agreement on the horizon, students in the district will return to school on Monday.
"Youngstown City Schools and the Youngstown Education Association have reached a tentative agreement," the statement said. "No details about the agreement are available at this time, however, we look forward to welcoming our scholars back to school on Monday, Sept. 18.
"The union will still need to vote on the agreement's ratification. The Youngstown Board of Education also will hold a special board meeting at 4:30 p.m. on Monday at Choffin Career and Technical Center to discuss the tentative agreement."
A statement released by YEA spokesman Jim Courim echoed a similar sentiment, while not releasing any further details.
"A tentative agreement was reached on Saturday between the Youngstown Education Association and the Board of Education," the statement from Courim said. "YEA cannot release any details at this time, as a member vote on the tentative agreement is scheduled for Monday evening. Meanwhile, YEA members will return to the classroom on Monday."
Teachers have been on strike since Aug. 23, and the strike was about to enter its fourth week.
Throughout negotiations, the union said the main issues have been related to contract language relating to how teachers are promoted and transferred and the authority of Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor.
The union made demands that the board change language in the YEA contract left over from the state's takeover of the district between 2012 and July 2022. That language gave the CEO of the state-appointed Academic Distress Commission exclusive authority over personnel decisions, including promotions, raises, transfers and all aspects of bargaining with the union.
As of last week, the parties had said they had made progress on the matter of teacher transfers between buildings, but the issue of raises remained a point of contention.
After the YEA called off Thursday's talks to formulate its response to a district proposal submitted late Wednesday night, talks resumed Friday at 11 a.m. at East High School and went late into the night. Talks resumed Saturday afternoon at noon, and the district's statement was sent just before 4 p.m.