After more than three weeks of strike action, the largest school district in Oregon, Portland Public Schools, has reached a tentative agreement with its teachers union. This means that approximately 45,000 students will be able to return to school on Monday. However, the agreement still needs to be voted on by the teachers and approved by the school board.

The strike, which began on November 1st, was in response to various issues including pay, class sizes, and planning time. The teachers' union has described the tentative deal as a big win for both teachers and students, as it addresses concerns such as classroom size, teacher salaries, health and safety, and mental health support for students affected by the pandemic.

Superintendent Guadalupe Guerrero expressed relief at the students' return to school, acknowledging the difficulties faced during the three-week absence. The missed days of school will be made up by cutting a week off the winter break and adding additional days in the new year.

Under the proposed agreement, educators will receive a 13.8% cumulative cost-of-living increase over the next three years, along with yearly step increases of 10.6% for approximately half of all educators. Starting next year, there will also be additional classroom time for elementary and middle grades, and a 90-minute increase in teacher planning time each week for elementary and middle-aged classrooms. Furthermore, the district plans to triple the number of team members dedicated to supporting students' mental and emotional health.

While many parents initially supported the striking teachers, concerns about learning loss grew as the school closures continued. The strike occurred without online instruction, further exacerbating these concerns. Tensions escalated during the Thanksgiving break, with teachers staging a march that disrupted traffic for 15 minutes and incidents of vandalism and posters taped to cars.

The Portland Association of Teachers, which represents over 4,000 educators, stated that this was the first teachers' strike in the district. The union has been negotiating for a new contract since their previous one expired in June. Among their grievances were growing class sizes, lack of support and planning time, and stagnant salaries that have not kept up with inflation.

The district repeatedly claimed that it lacked the funds to meet the union's demands, despite Oregon lawmakers approving a record $10.2 billion K-12 budget earlier this year. Some state lawmakers held a news conference on the steps of the state Capitol earlier this month, urging a resolution. In their statement, the district called on voters to press for better school funding from state lawmakers, warning that budget cuts may be necessary to afford the concessions made to the teachers' union.

The resolution of the strike is seen as a significant step forward for Portland students, families, and educators. The agreement addresses crucial issues and provides much-needed improvements for both teachers and students.