Haverhill teachers reach tentative agreement with city, reopening schools

School was in session Friday in Haverhill for the first time all week, after the teachers union and city officials reached a tentative contract agreement late Thursday night.

The agreement ended a four-day strike that began Monday. Teachers walked off the job over issues including low pay, school security and staffing levels.

Because the two sides didn't reach a deal until late Thursday, the district did not offer bus service Friday, but encouraged students to attend school.

At a press conference just before 11 p.m. Thursday, Tim Briggs — president of the Haverhill Education Association — and city negotiators signed a tentative agreement flanked by union members.

Briggs said the agreement includes a substantial pay hike for educators, "closing a damaging wage gap between Haverhill educators and educators in other districts." He also touted its student safety provisions — which had been a sticking point Wednesday night — as well as commitment to recruit staff from diverse backgrounds.

Meanwhile, Scott Wood, a school committee member and the lead negotiator for the city, said he was "extremely excited to get our students back where they belong," and to "let [teachers] do what they do best."

The strike proceeded in spite of a court order imposed by an Essex County Superior Court judge Tuesday. Public-sector employees are prohibited from striking under state law.

Thursday night's deal was reached after hundreds of union members and supporters gathered outside City Hall to protest apparent backsliding in the talks.

The tentative agreement still needs to be ratified by union membership as well as Haverhill's full school committee.