Lorain County: Tentative agreement reached in Sheffield-Sheffield Lake school district

SHEFFIELD -- With a strike deadline nearing, a tentative deal has been reached to avoid an employees' strike.

"We have reached a tentative agreement, but the unions have to vote on it tonight," says Sheffield-Sheffield Lake Superintendent Will Folger.

Membership voted to approve the contract tonight. The strike would have happened at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday.

The contract negotiations included 140 teachers and about 90 support staff, such as bus drivers and cafeteria workers.

The district hired substitute teachers in case of a strike.

The district offered teachers a 2 percent raise the first year and 2.5 percent the second and third years.

The teachers asked for 3.45 percent each of the three years. They split the difference.