San Francisco teachers, district reach deal to end first strike in decades

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — San Francisco teachers have reached a tentative agreement with the school district to end their strike, the first such walkout in nearly 50 years.

San Francisco Unified School District Superintendent Maria Su said schools will reopen to staff Friday and to students Wednesday after two holidays. District officials planned a news conference later Friday to share details on the agreement.

The strike by about 6,000 public schoolteachers started Monday. The district had closed all 120 of its schools and said it would offer independent study to some of its 50,000 students.

Teachers joined picket lines after last-ditch negotiations failed to reach a new contract. They were demanding higher wages, more health benefits, and more resources for students with special needs.

The union and the district had been negotiating for nearly a year, with teachers demanding fully funded family health care, salary raises and the filling of vacant positions impacting special education and services.

The union asked for a 9% raise over two years, which would mean an additional $92 million per year for the district. They say that money could come from reserve funds that could be directed back to classrooms and school sites.

SFUSD, which faces a $100 million deficit and is under state oversight because of a long-standing financial crisis, rejected the idea. Officials countered with a 6% wage increase paid over three years. Su said the offer also includes bonuses for all employees if there is a surplus by the 2027-28 school year.

A report by a neutral fact-finding panel released last week recommended a compromise of a 6% increase over two years, largely siding with the district’s arguments that it is financially constrained.

The union said San Francisco teachers receive some of the lowest contributions to their health care costs in the Bay Area, pushing many to leave. Su said the district offered two options: the district paying 75% of family health coverage to the insurance provider Kaiser or offering an annual allowance of $24,000 for teachers to choose their health care plan.

Teachers, students and supporters rally in support of the ongoing teachers strike at the San Francisco Unified School District at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Camilla He, a teacher at Commodore Stockton Early Education School, leads chants in Chinese across the street from the Rose Pak Station as teachers, students and parents participate in the SFUSD Teachers Strike on its third day at Washington and Stockton in the Chinatown District, in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Denise Deleon, a kindergarten teacher at Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, wears a button stating "Fair Contract Now" as she protests with fellow teachers, students and parents in the SFUSD Teachers Strike outside of Chinatown's Gordon J. Lau Elementary School, in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Teachers, students and supporters rally in support of the ongoing teacher's strike at the San Francisco Unified School District at Ocean Beach, in San Francisco, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

MILAN (AP) — Marie-Philip Poulin expressed relief after rejoining her Canadian teammates for practice on Friday, but the player nicknamed “Captain Clutch” isn’t sure if she will be available for the women's hockey quarterfinal against Germany.

Poulin revealed she felt what s he called “a tweak” in her right knee during the first period of a 5-1 win over Czechia on Monday. Though she is still experiencing soreness, Poulin said she is feeling better.

“We’ll see. It’s daily, obviously,” Poulin said following an hourlong practice, and after she skated on her own a day earlier. “I was excited to skate today.”

The 34-year-old’s presence on the ice provided a boost to Canada entering the quarterfinal knockout stage as it faces Germany on Saturday.

And it comes at a time the Canadians face questions as to whether they can repeat as Olympic champions after finishing second in Group A — behind the United States.

Poulin is among the most accomplished players in the women's game. She is making her fifth Olympic appearance and earned her nickname for scoring three Olympic gold medal-winning goals. Poulin's 17 Olympic goals are one short of matching Canada’s record held by Hayley Wickenheiser.

Poulin missed the team’s two final preliminary-round games, including a 5-0 loss to the United States, which is the Canadian women’s worst loss in Olympic play and the first time they’ve been blanked in a game.

“You itched to be out there no matter what,” Poulin said, as to whether the loss to the U.S. spurred her return. “It’s part of it. I think, obviously, you never want to miss those games. But again, I’m surrounded with great people. It’s a team sport. And the girls stepped up.”

Poulin was hurt after being checked by Kristyna Kaltounkova, who was penalized for an illegal hit. She returned to the ice briefly before heading back to the bench while favoring her right leg.

“I would be lying if I didn’t think that,” Poulin said as to whether she feared her tournament was over. “You want to be 100%, and obviously it’s never fun. You don’t want to think that way.”

Poulin was among the first players on the ice for practice and spent the first 10 minutes skating on her own and taking shots, while at times shaking and testing her right leg.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in this event that I’d want having back to our lineup more than Poulin,” coach Troy Ryan.

“You can even just see the look in her eyes. She’s just waiting to get back, waiting for the right opportunity,” Ryan added. “And we want to make sure we manage it. That we’re setting her up for success and our team up for when she does come back.”

Forward Blayre Turnbull wasn’t surprised in seeing No. 29 back skating.

“Nothing would keep her off the ice. So we knew it was just a matter of time that she’d be back out with us,” Turnbull said. “I think we’re all pretty happy that it’s happening as quickly as it is.”

AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) is down on the ice in the first period against Czechia during a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Canada's Marie-Philip Poulin (29) skates during warmups before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey against Czechia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)