There is a potential deal that will keep high school students in class without the threat of a potential strike.

The agreement between the province and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation will allow classes to resume this new school year without interruption as the two sides continue to bargain.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce says they have agreed to an October 27th deadline to reach a deal.

“If a negotiated agreement can’t be reached, the parties will enter into binding interest arbitration, which is a fair and reasonable approach to resolve all outstanding issues. Through this process, a neutral third party will make binding decisions on all the outstanding matters, including in central and local agreements,” says Lecce.

The proposal will be put before teachers to be ratified, with negotiations resuming shortly afterward.

OSSTF was one of the teachers’ unions to hold strike votes shortly after school started.

Lecce says the tentative agreement allows students and teachers to remain in the classroom focused on learning.

“A student that started grade nine in an English public school last year will be able to graduate over the next three years without the threat of a strike.

That is an amazing achievement for peace, for stability, and for academic success, one that we want to replicate right across the board for all students in elementary and Catholic and French.”

Lecce plans to present the same offer to the other teachers’ unions next week.