Denver Public Schools reached a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the Denver Classroom Teachers Association after months of negotiations, including with a third-party mediator, the teachers union announced Tuesday.

The teachers’ union priorities included competitive pay and benefits, smaller class sizes and sustainable workloads.

“This agreement was made possible because our members showed up every single week and fought tirelessly to win a contract that respects, pays, and values the amazing work they do to support students every single day,” Rob Gould, a special education teacher and DCTA president, said in a statement.

The union represents roughly 4,200 teachers across the district.

“Throughout this process, DCTA members have used their voices to demand better learning conditions for students and better working conditions for educators, because we know that the two cannot be separated,” Gould said.

District officials, too, praised the tentative agreement.

“We are proud to have reached what we feel is a fair and forward-looking agreement that honors the critical work our teachers do every day,” Superintendent Alex Marrero said in a statement. “This tentative contract supports our educators, strengthens our schools, and ultimately benefits the students and families we serve.”

Among the terms addressed in the contract:

• $1,000 annual COLA increase, with pay raises based on years of service and educational attainment.

• $57,666 starting pay for educators and a top salary of $124,233 for experienced educators with a doctorate degree.

• An agreement to further increase educator pay through a ballot measure.

The contract also includes language that the district will, beginning next calendar year, start working toward maintaining class sizes at 30 students and fewer for kindergarten through fifth grade.

“This tentative agreement is an important step forward in addressing the ongoing issue of overcrowded classrooms and unsustainable workloads,” Michelle Horwitz, a speech language pathologist, said in a statement.

After being denied their full cost-of-living (COLA) increase last year, educators had said they would be willing to hit the picket lines if the district did not negotiate in good faith.

In the union’s 101 years, teachers have held strikes three times: 2019, 1994 and 1996.

DCTA members now need to ratify the three-year contract before going to the school board for final approval. If approved by both parties, the new contract will go into effect starting Sept. 1.

“This tentative agreement demonstrates our clear commitment to ensuring our teachers are fairly compensated for the incredible work they do for our students,” the board said in the release.