St. Paul schools, teachers reach tentative contract agreement, avoid strike

Mar 06, 20240

AARON LAVINSKY, Star Tribune count

Members of the Saint Paul Federation of Educators bargaining team celebrated their tentative agreement following a press conference Tuesday at Maxfield Elementary in St. Paul. Representatives from SPPS, SPFE leadership and the Board of Education took part in a press conference after a tentative agreement was reached between St. Paul schools and the teachers union, averting a strike.

St. Paul Public Schools and the union representing its teachers and support staff reached a tentative agreement on a new two-year contract Tuesday that averts a strike without an expected increase in a daunting $107 million deficit for 2024-25.

"We set up parameters that we work from, and we've stayed very close there," Superintendent Joe Gothard said. "But there are still some very hard budget decisions that will have to be made."

The two sides made a joint appearance at Maxfield Elementary School on Tuesday afternoon - about two hours after issuing separate news releases announcing the deal. They declined, however, to release details of the agreement, which centered on wages and benefits as a major final sticking point.

https://www.startribune.com/st-paul-schools-teachers-reach-tentative-contract-agreement-avoid-strike/600348546/