LORDSTOWN, Ohio - Just days before teachers with the Lordstown Teachers Association (LTA) were scheduled to go on strike, a new contract has been ratified between the union and the school board.

According to a press release, the new three-year contract includes 3.5% raises each year, an end to the three-tier system for health care costs and flexibility with some teacher workdays.

The agreement was reached six days prior to a planned teachers strike.

Sixth grade teacher and LTA Interim President Pat Barrett released the following statement on the ratification of the new contract. 

"It took almost five months to get our district back to the bargaining table, but once they began engaging with us again we were able to reach an agreement that respects the work we do and the sacrifices we've made."

"Over the last 15 years, we had six years without any raises and eight years with raises that were below the statewide average. We've fallen further and further behind with every contract. Now that our school district is in very good financial shape, we stayed united and stood up for the pay we deserve."

"We were also able to make two other improvements that are  important to our members. We made sure that all our members, regardless of how long they've been teaching, are paying the same amount for health insurance. We also negotiated the ability to work three of our teacher work days (days without students) remotely. This added flexibility is important since we currently have the most working hours of any district in the county."

"Thank you to all of the students, parents, community members, and unions that pledged to stand with us if we went out on strike. Solidarity, among our membership and across the Lordstown community, brought our district back to the bargaining table.”

21 News reached out to Lordstown Superintendent Greg Bonamase who told us this matter could have been taken care of much sooner in March if the union had "more reasonable demands." 

Bonamase says he's still happy an agreement was able to be reached prior to the start of a strike and that the school year can begin with teachers in the classroom as planned Tuesday, September 3.

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