OLD FORGE -- A new teacher's contract in Old Forge ends the longest-running contract dispute in the state.
Parents of students in the district are just happy that the teachers' strikes are behind them.
For six years, Old Forge teachers and administrators have been at odds over a contract. That time included a few teachers' strikes.
The new agreed-upon contract will last through 2019.
Parents we talked to are looking forward to three years of stability.
The state's longest teachers' contract dispute is over. It's a distinction parents in the Old Forge School District haven't been proud of.
Some of its youngest students have known nothing but teachers and administrators at odds.
"I think she was in first grade, so, yeah, about six years," said Susie Aulisio.
For six years, teachers have worked without a contract and walked out on the job several times. The new agreed-upon contract covers the past six years and extends through 2019.
"We're very happy for all the teachers and for everybody that was involved in this process, we're glad that they came to a happy ending to a long six years," Aulisio said.
A statement from the president of the Old Forge Teachers' Union indicates the ending isn't too happy.
President Shawn Nee said, "Unfortunately, we were called terrorists, greedy, and it has been very bad for our work environment, which is our students' learning environment.
"We gave major contract concessions for the benefit of the students, the district, and the community."
Teachers say they will pay more for their health insurance and deductibles will go up. They will receive half of their retroactive pay raises from the past six years.
"If we have a three-year pause on this, I think we're all going to take a sigh of relief. Whether or not it will reoccur in three years, who's to say? But, right now we're going to enjoy the pause that we have now," said Joseph Anastasi.
Many parents, like Anastasi, fear that teachers may strike again once this new contract is up. For now, they're focusing on three years of stability.
"But most importantly, I like to see that the teachers get what they deserve. And they deserve a contract and they deserve to feel a sense of security in the community, and we all feel a sense of security now that it's resolved," Anastasi added.
Both the teachers union and the school board in Old Forge ratified the contract this week. The teachers' concessions like those changes to health care will come in the new year.