The threat of a teachers’ strike was one of the biggest stories in 2022 for the Pleasant Valley School District, but it wasn’t the only headline maker.

A realignment of the grades, ditching uniforms, retirement incentives, and furloughs were just some of the main talking points of the year.

Talk of a strike actually began in November 2021 when the teachers and their union (the Pleasant Valley Education Association) were agitated with the slow movement of contract negotiations with the Pleasant Valley School Board.

A new superintendent started in December 2021, and soon after, additional meetings were scheduled for January.

By February, the meetings were not fruitful and a Feb. 28 deadline loomed.

In the days leading up to the deadline, it looked like they may not come to a contract agreement. Then after seven hours of bargaining on Feb. 24, they reached an agreement. No strike in March.

March did bring other headlines.

The school district gave the teachers and specialists a retirement incentive and asked that 30 people take the incentive. At least 21 did.

The retirement incentive was also given to the staff that work as paraprofessionals, secretaries, etc. About 13 paraprofessionals took it.

The school board also approved the district’s new dress policy that did away with uniforms. Some people embraced the idea, while others were sad to see it go. The new policy went into effect on April 1.

April also brought the announcement of the realignment of grades beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. The elementary school would be for grades kindergarten through second grade. Third grade would move to the intermediate school, and sixth grade would be bumped up to the middle school. The high school would remain grades 9 through 12.

Superintendent James Konrad said the realignment would alleviate some of the overcrowding at the elementary school, while adding students to the middle school where there was extra space.

The school board approved the realignment in June.

In all, the realignment required about 60 teachers and specialists to move. Not all of those who were asked to move did. Some resigned, and some were reassigned back to the school where they were originally.

The school board also renegotiated its contract with the Pleasant Valley Education Support Professionals Association in June. An agreement was reached between the parities.

In a backtrack to May, the school district furloughed 52 employees. They included 18 professional staff and 34 support staff.

As the months went on, at least 12 of the support staff who were furloughed were asked to come back to the school district and did.