MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Schools’ certified and classified staff members voted to ratify a newly agreed-upon, tentative three-year contract Thursday night.

The agreement awaits the board’s and the state-appointed fiscal committee’s approval, but MSEA Lead Negotiator Brad Strong expects both groups to ratify and move on from what has been a “lengthy process.”

“But it happened nonetheless and it was amicable in the end. Now we have three years to catch our breath,” Strong said.

Superintendent Brian Garverick said he is encouraged that the contract was ratified.

“We can focus all our energies now on the classroom,” he said. He added the district’s teamsters also ratified their contract Thursday morning, which includes similar amendments. Garverick declined to comment on the teamster’s contract specifics because it has yet to be seen by members of the board.

The deal with the MSEA includes a lump sum payment of $450 for the current school year. MSEA members will receive a 1 percent pay raise in the contract’s second year and a 1.5 percent base salary increase in the third year.

Strong said the next biggest issue addressed in the agreement was how to deal with calamity days. In the new deal, the school will allow eight days. Any additional days will be made up at the end of the year.

The deal also includes an amendment to the district’s class cap rules. Under the plan’s new structure, classes will be capped at 25 students. Elementary teachers will receive $200 per additional student per nine weeks. High school teachers will receive $35 per additional student per nine weeks.

Tuition reimbursement monies, for both certified and support staff, will increase from $2,000 to $2,500 for each teacher who decides to further their education.

“We want to encourage everyone to be better trained,” Strong said. He said the provision proves the district advocates for education of all ages, not just young students.

The contract includes increasing the amount of notification time the district would need to give support staff before implementing a reduction in force. It increases from 60 days to 90 days.

Mansfield Senior High School’s day will change under the new agreement. Currently, school days are made of seven periods. The contract includes an additional period for intervention and enrichment. Strong said the additional period will likely be assigned to students who require extra help in classes.

“We don’t know all the details surround that yet,” he said.

Health insurance benefits, premiums and deductibles will remain the same under the new contract.

Strong said around 65 percent of the district’s teachers and staff participated in voting for the contract’s ratification.

“That’s higher (turnout) than normal, a pretty solid turnout,” he said.

The board of education will vote on the contract during their next meeting on Tuesday, March 15 at 5:30 p.m.