Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Teacher Union Reach Agreement

Students in the 17 catholic high schools operated by the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia could be back in class as soon as Tuesday morning.

That's the word from the Archdiocese after it says a tentative contract agreement wtih more than 700 striking teachers was reached on Sunday.  Students at the Archdiocese high schools, including in Radnor, have been out of class since last Wednesday.

Teachers are expected to vote on the contract Monday morning. If they ratify the agreement the Archdiocese says the teachers will immediately return to their schools to prepate for classes and the 16,000 students, who have been forced to stay home since last Wednesday, would return to school on Tuesday morning.

Here's the statement from the Archdiocese posted its website Sunday.

The Secondary School System of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Association of Catholic School Teachers, Local 1776 have reached a tentative agreement for a new contract for high school lay teachers in the seventeen Archdiocesan high schools.  Both parties have agreed not to comment until after a general membership meeting of the union where teachers will vote on acceptance of the terms of the tentative agreement.  The general membership meeting will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, September 19, 2011 at Penns Landing Caterers.

If the teachers ratify the tentative agreement, teachers would return to their schools for orientation following the vote and classes would resume on Tuesday.

There will be no school for students on Monday.