A seven-day teachers strike may be on the verge of ending as district officials and the teachers union announced an agreement shortly before 10 p.m.
Gov. Chris Gregoire spoke first at a news conference and said a tentative agreement had been reached, teachers would vote on it Thursday, and school would then resume Friday.
Gregoire said the sides "came together (this afternoon) in absolute good faith with one mission and one mission only, and that's to get the 28,000 students of the Tacoma school district back to class."
Details weren't released so that teachers can be given the first look. For now, i's unclear how the two sides resolved the three big issues that have separated them: class size, pay and teacher transfers/reassignments.
But Gregoire praised the agreement as "innovative" and said it could serve as a model for the state.
Union president Andy Coons said: "It's been a long process, but we got what we were asking for: a fair contract that's good for students."
Superintendent Art Jarvis expressed thanks to parents and students for "bearing with us" during this difficult time.
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