The school year for students in Gary, Indiana will kick off on Tuesday.

That’s after teachers ended their nearly two week long strike early this morning.

Gilbert King, Jr. is the lead negotiator for the Gary Community School Corporation.

He says it’s a relief to have the process done.

“I think the primary lesson is that negotiations is give and take,” King says. “There are times in the process where that may not occur, but in the final analysis for that to work, it has to be give and take.”

King says the union and school board agreed on increasing teachers’ salaries, but their lunch break will be 15 minutes shorter to combat disciplinary problems.

The new contract is expected to be approved by the school board when it meets on September 12th.