Brookline Closes in on Finalizing Teachers Contract

BROOKLINE, MA – Brookline may be closing in on a contract settlement with its teachers, bringing to a close the year-long dispute between the school district and its educators.

The Brookline School Committee and Brookline Educators Union released a joint statement on Tuesday indicating significant headway had been made on coming to an agreement.

"We have made substantial progress on the important issue of workload and pay," according to the statement. "Three more mediation sessions are scheduled for September."

Prior to Tuesday's statement, both sides met August 18 and 22 for negotiation sessions that lasted well past midnight, according to the statement.

The show of unity comes as the union formulated an "action plan" to ramp up its fight for a new contract, which involved stepping back from administrative involvement, according to a Boston Globe report.

Union president Jessica Wender-Shubow told the Globe that the "action plan" has been put on hold while progress is made but could still be implemented if negotiations falter.

The next mediation sessions will be held September 7, 13, and 20.

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