Minneapolis teachers ratify contract

Minneapolis teachers voted to accept a new two-year contract on Friday, ratifying the tentative deal reached with the district last month after 10 months of bargaining.

It includes a half-percent salary increase in each of the two contract years in addition to scheduled raises based on years of experience and education. Teachers had originally proposed a five percent-per-year salary increase.

District officials said the salary increase will cost the district $2.4 million. Other cost increases from the contract, including scheduled raises and benefits, total just under $15 million.

"We are pleased that the contract agreement is able to honor our teachers within the amount budgeted by MPS and its Board of Education," Superintendent Ed Graff said in a news release.

The contract also protects teachers trained in a Minneapolis schools program aimed at increasing staff of color from seniority-based layoffs.

The Minneapolis school board plans to vote on the contract Tuesday. If approved, it will be retroactive to July, 2017.

Earlier this year, public school teachers in St. Paul narrowly averted a strike after contract talks went down to the wire.