HOLLAND -- Holland Public Schools is eager to let its teachers' union return to the health insurance members favor providing it decides by today and pays the difference among what the plan costs and what the region says it could afford.

Bargaining teams on behalf of the district's Board of Education and Holland Education Association sustained agreement talks with a state mediator for more or less seven hours Tuesday at Washington Administration Building.

"What just happened was a big step in the wrong direction," Holland Education Association President Charles Bullard said.

Holland Public Schools Human Resources Director Carol Minnaar said the board's offered May 18 to revisit to an insurance plan offered through Michigan Education Special Services Association, known as MESSA, an affiliate of Michigan Education Association, the state's largest teachers union. That came after the board announced region financial projections had been overvalued by $6 million.