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Boston, Teachers Union Reach Tentative Contract Deal

BOSTON (CBS) - A tentative contract agreement has been reached between the city and the Boston Teachers Union.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Doug Cope reports

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The deal was struck early Wednesday morning after an 11-hour negotiating session, ending more than two years of sometimes contentious talks.

One sticking point in negotiations was teacher performance evaluations.

"Both sides agreed to use the state form and the state's model contract language. It works for everybody. There was always going to be performance evaluation, it was just a matter of whose format would be used. In this case we agreed to accept the state's," Teachers Union President Richard Stutman told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

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 125 schools can remove unsatisfactory teachers from classrooms. Principals will have greater flexibility to hire teachers transferring from another school. Pay raises for new teachers are also tied to performance.

Mayor Thomas Menino says the deal is great for students, works for teachers and is fair to taxpayers.

A ratification vote is expected early next month.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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