Overview

• The Andover School Committee and the Andover Education Association have reached a tentative agreement, ending a strike that had canceled classes for approximately 5,500 students.
• The new contract includes a 15.5% salary increase for teachers and a 34% increase for instructional assistants over the next four years.
• The agreement also provides eight weeks of fully paid parental leave, with the option to use an additional four weeks of accrued sick time.
• The deal was reached after more than 60 hours of negotiations over five days, led by a state-appointed mediator.
• Despite the agreement, the School Committee warns that the increased salaries will necessitate cuts to programs, services, and staff in the next school year.