MOUNT VERNON, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Mount Vernon School District has reached an agreement with its paraeducators after delaying the start of school for a third day.

The district announced the deal at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 29 and says school will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Paraeducators for the district have been in talks over a new contract since April, with a salary increase being the main point of dispute in negotiations. Their union, Public School Employees of Washington (PSE) said on Aug. 22 that they would strike if no agreement would be reached before the initial start date of the school year. That date was originally on Wednesday, Aug. 29.

Members of PSE SEIU 1948 picketed outside of the district office on Wednesday.

The district says, despite the agreement, it’s not starting classes on Friday, Aug. 30, in order to honor the ratification timeline with the union.

It’s still working on how to make up for the three missed days, which the district says it will communicate to families as soon as possible.