A teachers strike has been averted in National City. That means 350 public school teachers will stay in their classrooms today.
The teachers union and district officials in the National School District reached a tentative agreement after 18 hours of intense negotiations.
Union organizer Bill Guy said the agreement came within hours of when teachers were expected to hit the picket lines.
"You talk about the last hour, this was really the last hour," he said. "Our teachers really hoped they wouldn't have to strike and it's good news all around."
Both sides have been locked in a bitter dispute since last year when the district imposed furlough days, a modified school calendar, and larger class sizes without the union's consent.
District officials issued a statement indicating teachers agreed to realign their school calendar. In exchange, the district will maintain class sizes to and scale back on furlough days if the state restores education funding.
The deal now needs to be ratified.
