Seven hours later, strike end in sight?

News is spreading that the Seneca Valley teacher strike may be coming to a close as the board prepares to vote on a proposal. The two sites met for more than seven hours today and the potential agreement could put the kids back in school as early as Wednesday. From the Tribune-Review:

Under the proposal, made at the start of the fourth week of the teachers strike, teachers would accept annual pay raises of 4 percent for two years and one of three health care plans, two of which include premium payment and a third that includes higher co-payments and deductibles.

The teachers’ proposal would require 10 bargaining meetings before Jan. 16 to sort out the terms of the remaining three years of the five-year contract, said Pat Andrekovich, chief negotiator for the teachers.

If the school board accepts the proposal, there would not be a second strike this school year, Andrekovich said. Under state law, the current strike could have lasted through Nov. 14.

Update: More from the Post-Gazette.