Two days before a strike was set to begin, the Portland Association of Teachers announced Feb. 18 (as this edition was going to press) that a “conceptual agreement” was reached with Portland Public Schools on a new union contract.
The deal was reached after more than 23 straight hours of bargaining with a state mediator — and 10 months after bargaining began. The two sides reconvened later in the day to iron out details and put it in writing as a tentative agreement that will go to the union’s 2,900 members for ratification.
Details of the agreement won’t be released before teachers vote on the contract.