COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It’s been three years since Columbus City Schools teachers went on strike after contract negotiations fell apart and now the agreement that ended the 2022 strike is about to expire.   The Columbus Education Association and the Columbus Board of Education are starting n egotiations on a new contract.   The 2022 strike was a tough time for parents, teachers and the administration. John Coneglio, the president of the Columbus Education Association, said things are going well so far.   “Right now, I think we're in a place where we've made some pretty good movement and so it's exciting. I'm excited about that,” Coneglio said.   Every school district in Ohio goes through contract negotiations, typically every three years. Ohio Education Association president Scott DiMauro said it’s a necessary process.  “Everything from planning time to class size to, you know, health insurance, a whole range of issues that really help schools attract and retain good people into the profession can be the subject of negotiations,” DiMauro said.   During negotiations, every little thing has to be written down, reviewed and accepted by both the union and the school board, resulting in a lengthy process. The goal on both sides is to come to a fair agreement and to avoid a strike.   “Nobody wants a strike,” Coneglio said. “The best strike is no strike, right? The best thing you can do is to try to work together collaboratively.”  “We always hope that an agreement can be reached without a strike, but that is an important way of ensuring a level playing field between labor and management,” DiMauro said.   Though it’s only been a few days since negotiations began, Coneglio said it’s been smooth sailing this time around.   “If you were to ask me three years ago at this point, is this where we're heading? I kind of had an idea,” Coneglio said. “I don’t get that impression now. Hopefully, we remain collaborative and work together.”   Strikes are rare. Before 2022, the district hadn’t experienced a strike for almost 50 years.   Coneglio said the goal is to reach an agreement before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.  ...read more read less