It may have taken more than seven months and come within 36 hours of the strike deadline, but the Mars Area School District and teachers reached a tentative agreement Wednesday night.

Both district negotiations solicitor Tom Breth of Dillon McCandless King Coulter & Graham and Mars Area Education Association (MAEA) president Joe Graff said the tentative six-year agreement has concessions from both sides.

“Some people will believe that the board gave too much,” Breth said. “Others will believe that the teachers didn't get enough. That's negotiations.”

Negotiation sessions leading up to Wednesday often lasted more than five hours, and seemed to be tumultuous, based on reports from both sides.

In the end, Graff said Wednesday night came down to putting differences aside and having “rough” and “honest” conversations.

Graff, a Mars Area middle school teacher, said he went from making plans to organize pickets for Friday morning to canceling them over a 45-minute stretch.

The agreement came together in three or four hours, according to Graff.

“I don't know that either side walks away happy with everything in there,” Graff said. “(But we're) obviously happy to get a deal done.”

Both sides expressed their interest in avoiding the strike, which was planned for Friday if talks fell through this week.

Those involved on both sides can now return to work, according to Breth.

“(This) allows them to refocus 100% of their attention to the educational needs of the students,” Breth said.

Breth said as part of the tentative agreement, the parties have agreed to not publicly disclose the specifics of the contract until after MAEA has reviewed and discussed it with members.

“The teachers will be the first to vote on the deal, then the board,” Breth said.

Breth added the board will disclose the details before voting.

Graff expects the process of finalizing language will take anywhere from a few weeks to a month. By mid-March, he's hopeful everything will be in place.

“Hopefully, the ratification process goes smoothly,” Graff said.

Part of Wednesday night's negotiations focused on the extenuating circumstances of this school year, Graff said.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused many unexpected situations for the district as a whole.

Now, Graff said he's looking forward to the district being able to move ahead.

The community is an important part of helping that happen.

“I think we've got some good people,” Graff said.