Union And School District Reach Tentative Agreement. Union Awaiting No Confidence Response
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After nearly 18 months of bargaining, The Amherst Pelham Education Association (APEA) and the Amherst Regional School Committee have reached a tentative agreement. The new contract will provide cost of living increases of 3% for each of the next three years. Some of the other agreements the APEA has sought and gained are:
- Paraeducators in their first year of work will start at $18.33/hour. In 2024-25, paraeducators starting in the district will earn $20.55.
- In 2024-25, the top step for paraeducators will increase to $28.79/hour.
- Annual merit-based monetary awards for paraeducators.
- 12 weeks of accrued time for parental leave.
Detailed salary and wage grids in the tentative agreement can be viewed here.
The APEA bargaining team will finalize the language of the tentative agreement over the next few days, then present it to all bargaining units for a ratification vote.
Awaiting Response On No Confidence Vote
The APEA also renewed its call for an investigation of reported mistreatment of LGBTQIA+ students at the Middle School and for the resignation of a district staff member.. On May 16, the APEA presented the School Committee with a letter of no confidence in Michael Morris, Superintendent, and Doreen Cunningham, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Human Resources. Specifically, the APEA called for the School Committee to investigate Morris and seek the resignation of Cunningham. Since that meeting, the APEA has heard no updates about what steps the School Committee is taking to investigate and take action with regard to claims of unethical and unsafe practices on the part of Morris and Cunningham.
In a statement released on June 9 the union said “The APEA believes that there are actions, separate from the current Title IX investigation, that the School Committee should take. The APEA urges the School Committee to provide the APEA and the community with an update on this matter on or before July 1.”