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EP teachers union and BOE ratify new contract

EAST PALESTINE — The East Palestine Education Association (EPEA) announced through a press release on Tuesday that a contract between the teachers union and the East Palestine City Schools has been ratified.

“On Monday, the East Palestine Board of Education convened and officially accepted the proposed contract, solidifying the agreement that will benefit educators and students alike,” the release said.

The ratified agreement closes the book on six months of negotiations and a near-strike. The EPEA’s contract with the district expired on June 30 and bargaining talks have been ongoing since May 1. A federal mediator was called to assist in the process beginning July 18.

As those talks dragged on, both the union and the board of education prepared for a teachers’ strike before jointly announcing a tentative agreement on Oct. 11. Details of the agreement have not yet been released.

The union thanked both the East Palestine community for its support throughout the negotiations and school administration for coming through with a fair deal for the educators.

“We are thrilled to have reached an agreement that reflects the hard work and dedication of our educators. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Superintendent James Rook for his dedication in achieving a fair contract,” said Mimi Herman, president of the EPEA. “Together, we look forward to continuing our partnership to enhance the educational experience for all. We also deeply appreciate the overwhelming support from our community, our members for their unwavering dedication to our students during this time of bargaining, and the encouragement we received from neighboring associations.”

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