Students in the Youngstown City School District lost out on the beginning of their school year in August and spent the first month or so of it at home learning virtually as the district and the teachers’ union attempted to hammer out a new contract.

That won’t happen again in 2024-25, and that is for the better.

On Tuesday, the Youngstown Board of Education unanimously ratified a two-year contract with the Youngstown Education Association, and we must commend both sides for getting a deal done. This is not only important for the district and the teachers, but the students who will be able to begin next year with a seamless transition into the school year.

The beginning of the 2023-24 school year brought a lot of turmoil.

Teachers went on strike before school began and while they worked the picket line, administrators rolled out a virtual learning plan for students. We often used this space during that time to criticize the actions of both sides. However, we want to shine a positive light on this agreement as both sides were able to come together for the betterment of the students.

The agreement gives teachers a 2.5% raise in both years of the contract; however, teachers will pay an additional 1% toward the cost of their insurance. Their contribution will increase from 10% to 11%, increasing 0.5% in both years of the contract.

The district also reduced the number of consecutive sick days a teacher can use without a doctor’s note from five to three. However, the contract also states that all disciplinary actions are to be conducted in private, per Ohio law. The district will also not place anonymous tips in the personnel files and the district will tell an employee if files are requested or inspected by anyone outside the district.

So, while each side gave up a little, they were quickly able to come to an agreement to move forward for the betterment of their students’ education. Both sides also were publicly cordial in the conclusion of the agreement.

At Tuesday’s meeting, YCSD Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor thanked the members of the bargaining team for a “very collaborative and collegial negotiating process.”

“This is a great day for Youngstown City Schools,” he said.

YEA Spokesperson Jim Courim said while the contract was not substantially different from the one agreed to in September, “It was easy and quick.”

“Not every teacher was thrilled with it,” Courim said. “But we still voted with a very strong majority to ratify it.”

The most important aspect of this agreement is that the kids benefit. They won’t spend the first month of the next school year sitting at home and learning through a computer.

When August rolls around, they’ll be in a classroom, and that’s exactly where they need to be.