Tentative Deal Between St. Paul District, Teachers

ST. PAUL, (AP) - St. Paul Public Schools and its teachers union have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract, averting a strike authorization vote set for Monday.

The deal affecting 3,200 members of the St. Paul Federation of Teachers followed a 24-hour mediation session that began Thursday. No terms of the tentative agreement were released.

The union has been in contract negotiations with district officials since May. Sticking points include teacher compensation, class sizes and the standardized testing.

District officials say they're committed to negotiating with teachers, but say the union's demands would cost the district as much as $150 million.

The union will hold a membership meeting Monday to discuss details of the tentative agreement, but the strike authorization vote scheduled for Feb. 24 has been canceled.