Negotiators for the Mercer Island Education Association (MIEA) and the Mercer Island School District (MISD) reached a tentative agreement early Sept. 3, on a new two-year collective bargaining agreement for teachers and most classified school employees. Both sides had been bargaining for 22 and a half hours, according to the MIEA Facebook page.

The terms of the agreement are not being shared until the school board and MIEA membership are able to review it. MIEA members will meet Sept. 4, for a contract ratification vote. Members will be voting on the tentative agreement, which includes a proposed increase of 16.2 percent for classified members and average 14.7 percent for certificated members. The Mercer Island school board will review the contract at their regular meeting on Sept. 13. The 2018-19 school year begins Sept. 5.

“I’m grateful to both teams for finding common ground that meets the mutual interests of students, families, professional educators and our community,” MISD Superintendent Donna Colosky, said in a press release. “We are excited to welcome our students back to school on Wednesday.”