Carbon Career and Technical Institute's Joint Operating Committee has come to an agreement on a new teachers' contract with the Education Association.

Negotiations between the JOC and the union stalled last November when the two parties could not agree on what was needed for a tentative agreement."At a certain point last spring, the EA believed a tentative agreement had been reached at the negotiating table and therefore needed to be approved by the Joint Operating Committee. The Joint Operating Committee wished to continue negotiations believing that no tentative agreement can exist until they approve it in a public meeting and it is signed by both parties," administrative director David Reinbold said.The issue was referred to the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, but the JOC and union agreed to meet in January prior to any hearings.Reinbold, fellow committee member Wayne Gryzik, union president Joe Farkas, and Mike Lewis met three times to work on an agreement.No attorneys or outside negotiators were brought in for the meeting."The salary was adjusted a little bit. There's no significant change from the existing contract, though," Farkas said.Initially, the EA was looking to implement a salary agreement based on an average of the five districts that CCTI services. Farkas said that the current agreement follows a regular salary schedule."We're happy with the deal. We think it was good for everyone," Farkas said.The JOC signed the agreement at its meeting Wednesday, and the union signed off on Friday."There is now an official tentative agreement in place," Reinbold said. "An item will be on the March JOC Meeting Agenda to ratify the Tentative Agreement and put it in place for the 2017-2021 school years."