The Horizon Teachers' Association and Horizon School Division have ratified a new Local Implementation Negotiation Committee agreement.

HTA Bargaining Co-Chair Robert Lissinna speaks about some highlights of the LINC agreement.

"Increased access for teachers to professional development opportunities as well as just the general recognition for the extra curricular hours that our teachers put in over and above assigned teaching time and the Division's to both the professional development and the recognition of our teachers and the time they put in."

Unlike the recent collective bargaining agreement pending ratification, this agreement focuses on items such as lieu days, extra curricular hours and professional development.

HSD Director of Education Kevin Garinger says the deal works for all involved.

"We're happy to know that 80 percent of our teachers felt it was going to be good for them. I think there are pieces that all in all everybody will recognize that there are some real important pieces for all teachers in the HSD."

Lissinna says the deal seems to fit most people's wants as well.

"The feedback from our membership around the contract has been very positive so far."

The previous contract expired in August of 2014, the new pact goes into effect on August 24th of this year and will be in place until June 30th, 2020.

"We believe strongly in the work our teachers do and to have them with opportunities to ensure their professional development is able to be sustained and they are able to be able manage that effectively as individual teachers I think is really important," Garinger added.

The negotiating team utilized a process known as "Interest-Based Bargaining" throughout their meetings. The IBB process is collaborative in nature and begins with the parties meeting to build relationships and spend time educating each other about their interests and needs according to the HSD news release.

You can hear more from both Lissinna and Garinger below in their interviews with Bolt FM's Clark Stork.