Striking teachers to return to work

Two who had not joined in: Erin Casey, left, and Mary Ann Ferrara were released from jail after complying with the judge's back to work order for Middletown Township, New Jersey, teachers.

FREEHOLD, New Jersey (CNN) -- Representatives of both sides in the Middletown Township teachers strike said Friday the teachers will return to work Monday and that a contract dispute will enter nonbinding mediation.

The manager for the Monmouth County Court said the 228 jailed teachers will be released, but only after they appear in court and agree to return to work.

Earlier Friday, teachers and the board of education in the Middletown Township School District continued to spar over an agreement that would give teachers a new contract and return them to classrooms.

At 6:45 a.m., the executive committee of the Middletown Township Education Association (MTEA) presented a proposal to the board of education, which the board refused to sign.

Striking teachers have been appearing before judges this week in alphabetical order, and those without extenuating circumstances have been sent to jail for failure to comply with the court's back-to-work order.

By Thursday night, 228 teachers and secretaries of the 1,000-member MTEA had been processed to enter jail, according to Bill Lynch, a court officer with the Monmouth County Superior Court.

The education association has been without a contract since June 30. The teachers went on strike November 29. The 17 schools -- from elementary to high school -- in the Middletown Township School District remained closed Friday.

The strike centers on how much teachers should pay for their health benefits.

CNN Correspondent Brian Palmer contributed to this story.