POMEROY — A strike by the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Local 017, scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. Thursday (this morning) has been averted.

A memorandum of understanding between OAPSE and the Meigs Local Board of Education was agreed upon Wednesday evening following an all-day meeting.

That memorandum was scheduled to go for a vote of ratification before the membership of Local 017 Wednesday night.

The Meigs Local Board of Education will vote to ratify the memorandum of understanding at its Jan. 26 meeting, according to Meigs Local Superintendent Rusty Bookman.

The terms of the memorandum become effective on Feb. 1. Meanwhile, OAPSE employees will continue to work under a contract implemented by the Board of Education on Jan. 1.

Bookman said that until the memorandum of understanding has been ratified by both Local 017 and the Meigs Local Board of Education, terms of the agreement will not be effective or released to the public.

“I’m glad we could come together on terms and I’m excited about the result,” said the superintendent. “Things will be back to normal tomorrow. The buses will run on schedule and we’ll get back to doing the business of educating our kids.”

Meigs Local representatives participating in Wednesday’s meeting were Bookman, Mark Rhonemus, treasurer/CFO, Meigs Local Board of Education president Barbara Musser, and Board member Ryan Mahr.

OAPSE representatives included Local 017 president Steve Morris and OAPSE field representative Lynda Bolin, neither of whom could be reached for comment before press time.