There is a chance teachers could reject the deal.

Seattle teachers will vote this afternoon on whether to ratify the tentative contract deal with the district.

While the contract was approved by union leadership last week, ending a five-day teacher strike, not all members were pleased with the results. Union negotiators had recently proposed increasing teacher pay by 9.5 percent over two years before state cost-of-living raises.

The state Supreme Court itself also shocked about 1,200 students and their teachers by ruling 6-3 on September 4 that public charter schools are unconstitutional because they aren’t “common schools” governed by elected boards.

Teacher salaries in Seattle range now from about $44,000 to more than $86,000, depending on experience and education.

The tentative agreement guarantees 30 minutes of recess time for all elementary students, empanels 30 “equity committees” to address disparities in academic achievement and discipline and scraps a portion of the teacher evaluation system the union opposed.

“They will be back at work”, Knapp said.

The walkout that began September 9 delayed the start of school in Washington state’s largest district.

“We are eager to open schools, welcome students and begin learning”, district Superintendent Larry Nyland said in a statement.

Teachers complained that the city’s technology industry had priced them out of living in the city where they teach. The district provided raises totaling 8 percent out of local levy money.

“I’m really ready for school”. The Seattle City Council also supported the union, passing a resolution this week to recognize the striking teachers. He backed their demand for a cap on caseloads for special education teachers, psychologists and other specialists. “It’ll be great to have her back in school”, said Johnson, a massage therapist who patched together child care in the past week by using a community center and alternating schedules with his wife.