Teachers contract awaits board approval

SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The teachers have approved the terms of a proposed new contract, and now it's up to the school board to make a decision.
The Sharpsville Area Education Association voted overwhelmingly Thursday to accept the recommendation of a state-appointed fact finder for a contract settlement.
The vote was 65-3, said Mike Kalpich, union president and chief negotiator.
The union represents 82 teachers.
Terms of the proposal won't be released until after the Sharpsville Area School Board votes in a special meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.
If the board accepts the terms, the two sides have a contract.
If the board rejects the proposal, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board will release the terms of the fact finder's recommendation to the public, and the two sides will resume negotiations.
They've been at the bargaining table since January 2003.
The teachers have worked nearly the entire school year under an extension of their old agreement.