The St. Paul School Board on Tuesday night approved a new two-year contract with teachers and support staff — a deal that had ended a three-day strike in March.
The unanimous vote followed union ratification of the agreement more than a month ago, and sets the stage for personnel moves in the coming weeks. Board members were pleased to get past what had been a divisive chapter for some.
“Let’s put this contract to bed and let’s move on — but let’s move on together,” board member John Brodrick said.
The strike positioned the state’s second-largest district as the latest entrant in a national #RedforEd movement that’s found teachers walking out for higher pay and, in St. Paul’s case, enhanced student supports.
As part of the agreement, the St. Paul Federation of Educators persuaded the district to dedicate an additional $4.7 million to school mental health teams.