News In Brief

Tentative accord reached in Chicago teacher strike

The nation's top mediator has hammered out a tentative settlement of the longest teacher strike in Chicago history. William J. Usery Jr., former US labor secretary, entered the marathon talks Saturday night and announced a tentative agreement Sunday evening.

Neither side would discuss the settlement publicly, but informed sources said it called for a 5 percent raise. Teachers were set to vote on the agreement Monday afternoon. School officials were hopeful that classes could resume today for the 435,000 students in the nation's third-largest school district. As of Monday, classrooms were closed for the 15th school day.

The settlement is ''not only good for the city of Chicago but for the school system and the people going to school,'' Mr. Usery said. Mayor Harold Washington refused to become involved in the bargaining, but brought heavy pressure late last week for the deadlocked sides to accept mediation.