Members of the Mars Area Education Association (MAEA) are anxious to finalize their contract with the district, and are questioning why the finalization process has taken so long.

A tentative agreement was reached in late February, coming within roughly 36 hours of a strike deadline. Since that time, the district and MAEA have been in the process of ironing out details.

Shelley Zoelle, a teacher at Mars Area Centennial School, spoke on behalf of MAEA at the school board meeting Tuesday night.

Zoelle said the tentative agreement in February caused relief throughout the community.

“Since then, there have been unexpected delays in finalizing the language in the contract,” Zoelle said. “Our members are understandably anxious to see the agreement and have the opportunity to vote on it.”

Zoelle said as the end of the year nears, teachers are looking to the district to “follow through” and work to finish the agreement process.

“We all want the same end result here,” Zoelle said. “This has been an extremely difficult school year for everyone.”

In a March 31 email exchange with district negotiations solicitor Thomas Breth, the Eagle learned the district completed its review of the collective bargaining agreement and salary schedule.

Breth indicated the district's draft revision would be sent to Brooke Witt, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) region field director, by April 5.

Jill Swaney, district business manager, confirmed Tuesday that revisions have been sent to PSEA. She hopes the district will receive a draft back soon.

“Unfortunately, that's just the nature of (contracts),” Swaney said.

Zoelle added MAEA also “sincerely hopes” the district arrives at a contract with support staff.

Negotiations have been ongoing with support staff for months. The board said a “status update” will be posted soon on the website.