STANDISH – After 18 months working without a contract, the Saco Valley Teachers’ Union and School Administrative District 6 Board of Directors may be close to an agreement that would end the long dispute.

According to Neal Flynn, an English teacher at Bonny Eagle High School and president of the Saco Valley Teacher Association, the school board has approved a contract that will now be taken up by the union once teachers return from summer break. Flynn would not elaborate on the terms of the contract out of respect for the negotiations process.

“It would not be appropriate to make any comment on the contract,” Flynn said. “The school board has ratified a possible agreement, but it has not been voted on by the membership of the association as of yet.”

The earliest a ratification vote could take place would be when teachers return to school in late August or early September for an in-service day prior to students’ return, he said.

If approved, the new contract would bring to a close the contentious 18-month negotiation process that saw teachers wearing buttons in class indicating, “I am working without a contract.”

The dispute even received mention during a speech at Bonny Eagle’s graduation ceremony in June by the student president of the class of 2010.

Michael Delcourt, chief negotiator for the school board and longtime Standish representative, did not return a phone call seeking comment. Superintendent Suzanne Lukas was on vacation. Former union president Marc Sawyer also did not return a phone call seeking comment.