Maine high teachers close in on contract

Maine Township High School District 207 and its teachers union have reached a tentative agreement that still needs the OK of school board and union members.

Few details were immediately available about the proposed deal, reached with the help of a federal mediator. There was no word on when formal votes would be held.

Talks began in February 2007 to draft an agreement for District 207's 650 teachers. The mediator was called in earlier this month to help the two sides reach a new pact.

Sticking points included salaries, retroactive pay and the length of the new contract.

The proposal would cover teachers for five years.

Until a new agreement is approved, teachers are covered under the terms of a five-year agreement that expired on Aug. 15, 2007.

Neither school nor teachers union representatives could be reached for immediate comment this afternoon.

Eric Leys, a school board member and former member of the negotiating team, called it a very long process that appears to have come to a resolution that will allow both sides to move forward.

"It's nice that this was reached before summer recess," he said.