It's over.... the strike shutting down Dixon schools is no more.
Teachers and students showed up for class after nearly two weeks of pickets and unplanned vacation days.
The resumption of classes means students can participate in activities again.
The sounds of practice once again fill the Dixon High School gymnasium, but students still worry the after effects of the strike will linger.
Junior Darreon Shuck says, "I'm iffy because I liked my break and I didn't like it because we miss our first soccer game yesterday, and I was kind of upset about that.">[Duration:0:07]
She says she finally recovered from some fractured fingers that kept her from playing. Then the strike happened, keeping her from the game as if she hadn't healed at all.
"I'm hoping for a soccer scholarship to a college, so it's actually important for me to get back in school and participate in soccer," says Shuck.
Her friend Kayla McGuire says she was fine with school being closed. Although she says the strike worried a lot of older students.
"I kind of liked not being in school because I like taking breaks, I'm not a big fan of school, but our seniors were worried about not graduating," says McGuire.
Those worries have eased, as teachers stack up their picket signs and pick up grade books again. Union lead negotiator Dolph Ricks says everyone understood the strike's consequences. Making an agreement feel sweeter.
"Coming back to school today, in reality it felt like coming back from August,"
He says the students were sleepy today. As if they didn't expect to be back in class. Ricks says he was just happy to turn off the silence.
"It was nice to just hear the noise in the schools again," says Ricks.
"I went and hardly anybody was there, so we all got some free time," says Shuck.
"There is still some paperwork left to completely wrap up the strike. Dixon teachers will need to ratify their contract and the school board will need to approve it by a formal vote.
Dixon school board members will vote on the new contract at their next meeting.
Meanwhile students will take their ISAT tests on Monday.
