New Teacher Contracts Approved: District Will See Higher Wages and Budget Stability
By Ellen Putnam
MEU members attending a School Committee meeting this spring
Photo From MEU
After months of negotiations, the Melrose School Committee and the Melrose Educators Union (MEU) this week approved new three-year contracts for teachers (Unit A) and paraprofessionals (Unit C) and a one-year contract for secretaries (Unit B). These contracts include new provisions for paid family leave and health and safety issues in schools as well as pay increases for staff. The new three-year contracts cover a large majority of Melrose Public Schools employees and will allow school leaders to anticipate salary costs through the 2028-29 school year.
MEU representatives called the salary increases for Unit A teachers “the largest wage increases in local history,” with some educators seeing as much as a 10% salary increase over the previous contract.
The new contract appears to reflect efforts to provide higher compensation for more experienced educators, including longevity increases for teachers who have been in the district for over a decade and two additional steps on the salary scale for teachers with 13 or 14 and 15 or more years of experience. In the contract’s final year (the 2028-29 school year), teachers with a doctorate and over 15 years of experience will earn more than $125,000 per year.
Paraprofessionals in Unit C will also see pay increases, especially for those paraprofessionals who have more experience or a higher education degree. Under the new contract, paraprofessionals with the least experience will earn $27,700 per year in the 2028-29 school year (compared to $21,600 in 2024-25), and those with the most experience will earn up to $44,500 per year (compared to $29,100 in 2024-25).
The new contracts also establish paid parental leave for all three bargaining units. Currently, Melrose educators are eligible for paid family leave only under the provisions of state law (the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act) and through sick days accrued by the employee prior to taking family leave. Approximately 20 Melrose educators (out of a total workforce of approximately 400) per year take parental leave, out of approximately 50 total leaves.
The School Committee and the MEU settled on a stepped increase for parental leave for all three bargaining units, beginning with three weeks of paid leave next year and increasing to five weeks in the final year of the contract (the 2028-29 school year). Educators may make up the difference between paid leave and a total of twelve weeks of leave with accrued sick time.
School Committee members and school officials attending this year's Melrose High School graduation
Photo From Jen for Melrose
The new Unit A and C contracts also include provisions for establishing a new committee dedicated to school safety, including “student dysregulation, community social-emotional health, building visitors, and environmental concerns”; a reporting system for rodent concerns; and protocols for cases of extreme heat or cold in classrooms, which include providing alternate learning spaces or potentially sending students home early.
The Unit A contract also includes provisions to affirm educators’ academic freedom and autonomy regarding the use of technology in the classroom. The contract states: “Wherever possible, educator discretion shall be respected within established guidelines in determining the substance, organization and presentation of lessons and courses, including the use of technology in the classroom.” It also specifies, “Instruction shall be guided by research-based best practices that prioritize deeper learning, comprehension, and long-term retention of knowledge. Members shall have discretion and autonomy to determine when to use technology and/or print-based materials in their classrooms other than when required by District Administration.”
The Unit C contract for paraprofessionals includes some provisions for improved working conditions, including a guaranteed 20-minute lunch break and another 15-minute break each day, some paid holidays, and two paid professional development days. (Paraprofessionals had previously shared that they struggled to find time during their workday to read education plans for students they support and collaborate with special education teachers.)
The Unit C contract also provides higher pay rates for paraprofessionals while they are providing coverage for Unit A educators, and establishes a joint Para to Teacher Pipeline task force to encourage paraprofessionals in seeking certification and teaching positions.
City officials expect the salary increases in the new contracts to be fully contained within the school budget that the School Committee approved in April, without the need for additional funds to cover salary increases.
Negotiations for the three contracts began in November, and, at times, appeared to not be entirely amicable, although bargaining sessions are closed to the public and School Committee members would not comment on the negotiations. During the last contract negotiations in 2022, MEU members voted to go on strike, which was only averted by a last-minute deal. Other districts have seen lengthy strikes in recent years, including Newton, Beverly, Gloucester, and Marblehead.
“By working together, we have secured an agreement that honors the essential role our educators play, stabilizes our district, and ensures our classrooms remain places where every student can thrive,” School Committee Chair Seamus Kelley said in a statement. “I extend my deepest thanks to the negotiation teams for their hard work and to the Melrose community for making this progress possible through last year’s override vote.”
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement that reflects the hard work, professionalism, and dedication of educators and support staff across Melrose,” said MEU President Leslie Means. “This outcome is the result of countless hours of thoughtful discussion and advocacy by members of our negotiating teams, and I am deeply grateful for the commitment and perseverance they brought to the process. While no agreement can fully address every priority or concern, we believe this contract represents meaningful progress for teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrative assistants, and provides a strong foundation for continuing to support both educators and students. We look forward to moving ahead together and maintaining a collaborative relationship with the School Committee and district leadership in the years ahead.”
“This collaborative effort produced a sustainable and competitive agreement that honors our workforce while remaining firmly within the district's long term financial means based on currently known fiscal projections,” stated Superintendent Cari Berman. “I’m grateful to our educators and the Melrose School Committee for their cooperation and creativity in negotiating and finalizing this agreement. By investing in and supporting our dedicated staff, this agreement strengthens our ability to provide high quality instruction, foster student growth and achievement, and meet the diverse needs of learners across the district.”
