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Coast Mountains School District welcomes news of tentative teacher deal

“We are pleased to have finally reached this stage in the process and eagerly look forward to welcoming back students and teachers."

The Coast Mountains School District (CMSD) is welcoming this morning's news of a tentative agreement reached between the provincial government and its teachers' union.

Teachers are expected to vote on the settlement – which is expected to be finalized later today – later this week, meaning students could be back in classes early next week.

"We have been working to ensure a smooth opening as soon as possible while school has not been in session.  There are still many organizational tasks that require teacher participation, we hope to be opening our buildings as soon as possible to welcome back your children," reads a statement from CMSD school superintendent Katherine McIntosh posted on the school district's website this morning.

“We are pleased to have finally reached this stage in the process and eagerly look forward to welcoming back students and teachers.”

This week was supposed to be the third week of classes for public school students in B.C., but with the BC Teachers' Federation and the provincial government having been locked in a bitter contract dispute since last spring, school has yet to begin.

But nearly 40 hours of negotiations over the weekend between the two sides with the help of veteran mediator Vince Ready ended with an early morning statement confirming a tentative agreement.

The school district is asking parents to check the district website for updates on school openings.

More details on the tentative agreement are expected this afternoon.