The Stafford School Department and the union that represents the non-certified workers have come to an agreement over contract language , after discussions that lasted over nine months .

“ The agreement comes as a relief to the members of our union’s chapter representing 150 secretaries , custodians , para educators , cafeteria workers and other non-certified employees in the district’s five schools , ” said Matthew O’Connor , a representative from the union .

“ It promises to move them one step closer to resolving a nine month-long dispute that began after they overwhelmingly approved a new contract negotiated with the Board of Education last August , ” said O’Connor .

“ We are being extra cautious and want to make sure that this is an agreement that will hold , ” said Stafford Superintendent Therese Fishman .

“ I am very hopeful , come Monday , when the board meets , that we can settle this and move on , ” said Fishman .

At issue was language regarding paraprofessionals’ job classifications for purposes of layoffs , which was never raised during negotiations but which ended up in the final contract presented by Stafford’s Board of Education .

“ We still have to get a few things in order , ” said Fishman . “ We thought we had an agreement in August , but in the end it didn’t work out . ”

“ I am cautiously optimistic that there is agreement on both sides , ” she said .

“ We’re relieved we’ve finally resolved the outstanding issues that held up the process for so long , ” said Louis Harris , the head custodian at Stafford High School .

“ After all , we’d rather be working with officials and the administration to improve the quality of education for students than arguing over contract language , ” said Harris , a member of the negotiating committee for the Union’s local chapter .

The agreement reached with the school board implements negotiated pay raises and other improvements that were not in dispute but were delayed while awaiting action by the Labor Board on the specific language change .

“ This resolution will end unnecessary hardships for the district’s educational support staff and their families , ” said O’Connor .

CSEA / SEIU Local 2001 represents 25 , 000 active and retired public sector workers serving in state and municipal agencies , as well as local school districts across Connecticut .

“ The employees had been working for months to move the district’s elected officials to reverse language changes made to a tentative agreement after it was ratified in August of 2009 , ” said O’Connor .

“ I love my job and the children I work with , ” said Kimberly Shirk , a paraprofessional who works in the Staffordville School .

“ Even being one of the lowest paid employees in the school system , I find my job rewarding , ” said Shirk , who works ‘ one-on-one’ with students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder .

“ We want to get this settled and agreed , and be set for the next two years, ” said Fishman .