Boston teachers, city, reach tentative labor deal
BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Teachers Union and the city have reached a tentative contract agreement after more than two years of negotiations.
The union president says the deal was reached at about 3 a.m. Wednesday following a marathon 11-hour negotiating session.
The union and the school department had stalled over a new teacher evaluation system. Under the new system, the city will rely more heavily on student achievement in evaluations.
Union president Richard Stutman said the school department agreed to lower class size in under-performing grades, and to hire more nurses, social workers and assistants under some circumstances.
The city's approximately 125 schools also will have greater flexibility to hire teachers transferring from another school. The city has about 5,000 teachers.
A spokeswoman for Mayor Thomas Menino called it "a great day."
