A bout 130 teachers gathered at the School Board meeting Feb. 10, according to head negotiator for the Park Association of Teachers Mike Nordean.

“We were there letting the Board know that we’re here and need to be seen,” he said. “This is important to us.”

Nordean said the teachers were there because of contract negotiations, which  began last spring and are closer to completion than ever before. He said he hopes the Board can approve a proposal by the end of the week.

“There are issues, but we’ve either come to a conclusion or dropped them,” he said. “Just because we don’t get it this time doesn’t mean we won’t next time.”

Human resources director Kimberly Hergott said the School Board members must be consulted about finances and approve the proposal before moving forward, a step she hopes will occur this week.

“We’re just doing the final negotiations,” she said. “I won’t say we have a settlement, but we’re very close. The District needs to pull the Board together and discuss.”

If the Board approves the proposal, Hergott said it becomes a tentative agreement, which will be brought to teachers for ratification. At that point, Hergott will give it to the Board of Education with a recommendation to accept it.

Park Association of Teachers president Kevin Jones said he thinks the teachers have been frustrated throughout the negotiation process because they have worked under an outdated contract since their previous agreement expired last June.

“We’ve made substantial sacrifices the last two contracts to make sure the District’s finances are stable, which we feel like they are now,” Jones said. “We continue to bend over backward for students by working to meet each and every initiative asked of us.”

Hergott said she thinks everyone involved in the negotiations will be pleased to have them settled.

“Overall, it’s been a very respectful process,” Hergott said. “I know the teachers are excited to settle, and so is the Board for that matter.”