Students in Newton will be returning to class on Monday after the Newton Teachers Association and the Newton School Committee announced a tentative agreement on a new contract that brings the lengthy teachers’ strike to an end after 11 days without school in the city.
In a statement Friday night, the school committee said they’ve reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract.
Although the terms of the deal weren’t immediately clear, an NTA spokesperson said the contract secures increased access to mental health supports for students, including social workers, a parental leave policy that removes discriminatory language and guarantees 40 days of paid leave and up to 60 days overall, 15 days of FMLA leave, and raises the starting salaries of aids and behavior therapists.
“This contract reflects our values including respect for our educators,” a spokesperson for the school committee said. “It reinforces and expands meaningful support for students; meaningfully increases compensation for all employees, particularly our building and classroom aides; maintains Newton as a leader in benefits; and provides important flexibility for our leaders to strengthen and innovate our system.”