It took four years and a strike before the South Butler School District's teachers had a new contract.

After months of fruitless negotiations and arbitration, the South Butler School District's 168 teachers hit the picket line on March 15.

The teachers had worked under their old contract since it expired on June 30, 2014.

Per state school code, the strike ended on March 27. But the two sides continued to battle until June 13, when a contract was finally signed.

“While I am glad that we can move forward from this point with a strategy to effectuate a real change in this district, the new contract is not what we had hoped for, nor is it an accurate reflection of what the teachers should have earned in these last four years,” teachers union President Ian Babb said in a June news release.

Matt Cimbala, the school board president at the time, said although much bickering in the community and on social media accompanied the stalemate, the two sides avoided such behavior during the negotiations.

“I want to thank the teachers who were part of the negotiating team,” Cimbala said. “We all worked very hard over the last four years and we were always respectful at the bargaining table.”

Cimbala went on to say that he thinks the contract is a good one.

“I think it's a fair deal for the district, the teachers and the taxpayers,” Cimbala said.

South Butler students attended classes until June 24 as a result of missed days during the strike.