MASON, Ohio — Mason Education Association and Mason City Schools reached a tentative agreement Monday evening after community members and teachers gathered to support MEA's bargaining team.

The contract expired in June and the bargaining talks have been ongoing since last February.

What You Need To Know

  • Hundreds of teachers in Mason walked and rallied as contract talks continued

  • The contracts expired back in June and talks have been ongoing since February

  • The district has nearly 10,000 students and received five stars on the state report card

  • There had been more than a dozen contract discussions

MEA, the union represents 644 Mason teachers, and the district's agreement is for a new three-year contract.

“We are grateful to begin the new school year with negotiations behind us, allowing us to focus on what matters most—providing exceptional educational experiences for our students. Our teachers and staff can now move forward, ready to welcome and engage students from day one,” said Superintendent Jonathan Cooper in a release. "We believe this tentative agreement represents a fair and respectful outcome for Mason’s high-quality educators."

MEA will now present the tentative agreement to its members for a vote, after which the Mason City School Board of Education will hold a meeting to discuss and approve it.

"We are relieved that our teachers are now able to focus on the remaining few days of summer and prepare for another great school year with our students," said MEA spokeswoman Stephanie Nally. "We will continue our efforts to build the better #cometculture we and our students deserve as we move forward."

Nally said the tentative agreement will be presented for ratification on Aug. 15.

Before the tentative agreement was reached, hundreds of teachers walked a mile and a half in the blistering sun all for a reason.

“I’ve been here for 25 years. This is important to us. I think it sends a beautiful statement of unity for us,” said teacher Brenda Campbell.

Mason has nearly 10,000 students in the district and has a 97.7% four-year graduation rate. The average teacher salary is more than $90,000, and the district received five stars on the state report card.

Mason teachers hope the contract agreement will help them stay competitive with other districts.

“One of our big goals in this is to find opportunities for our teachers to be able to collaborate. We want them to be able to have relevant professional development that best meets the needs of their classroom,” said Nally.

Teachers also want to have adequate time to establish that professional development.

“It makes me feel valued and I hope we are sending a message to the community that we are Mason. We are what makes Mason important and special and what makes the educational process in Mason so amazing,” said teacher Susan Husting.

To show their support and gratitude, community members lined the street in Mason as teachers walked past.

“They’re really good and they (help) me learn a lot,” said student Crew Davis.

“Teachers have just been such a huge impact in both my kids lives. They go above and beyond for the kids and they have been amazing throughout our five years now,” said parent Katie Davis.

“We had heard the district was good about helping kids with disabilities, but what we have found even though they have those plans, it’s really the teachers that are implementing those accommodations for the students and it’s the teachers who have made all the difference whether or not my kids are having a good year or a bad year,” said parent Anastasia Pennington.

With the first day of school right around the corner on Aug. 15, the goal is to have a fresh, progressive start.

“This is how Mason teachers show up and this is how Mason parents show up to support their teachers. We’re a team and I think today demonstrated how powerful that team is,” Nally said.

Last week, Mason City Schools Board of Education released the following statement, saying in part:

“Everyone in our community is hopeful that they will reach a resolution before school begins. With the challenge of summer schedules, this will be the first time the teams have been able to have another session since July 1. The teams began using a federal mediator in April. The Mason City Schools Board of Education is eager to reach a fair, respectful, sustainable agreement that will help keep and attract Mason Quality educators.”