Palmerton Area School District teachers appear prepared to start the 2016-17 year without a contract.

Negotiations between the school board and Palmerton Area Education Association began in February, but a deal has yet to be struck.Following Tuesday night's school board meeting, PAEA President Tom Smelas said both sides will continue talks and he is "hopeful for a quick resolution."Smelas said it's been "many years" since Palmerton teachers started the school year with a contract following the expiration of the previous one.The four-year contract running from July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2016, was approved by the school board in March 2014.Based on the terms of the fact-finder's recommendation, the contract called for a pay freeze in 2012-13; retroactive to July 1, 2013, plus 0.5 percent plus step in 2013-14; 0.65 percent plus step in 2014-15; and 1 percent plus step in 2015-16.Earlier in Tuesday's meeting, Marcy Zelinsky, a learning support teacher at S.S. Palmer Elementary School and a PAEA representative, said despite the contract expiration, the staff "continues to perform its professional duties.""The goal is to arrive at an agreement that is fair and reasonable for students, staff, the district and community," Zelinsky said. "We look forward to continued progress in the right direction for Palmerton Area School District."Teachers have been busy over the summer preparing for the upcoming school year, Zelinsky said. Many staff members participated in professional development and higher education opportunities."We're also preparing our lessons and classrooms for the upcoming school year," she said."You can keep up to date at our new Palmerton Pride Facebook page."In addition, Zelinsky said the PAEA would welcome the chance to give a monthly update to the board and community on what is happening from a teacher's perspective.