By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — That’s a wrap.
The School Committee and Lynnfield Teachers Association ratified three memoranda of agreements (MOAs) pertaining to three contracts last week. The LTA voted to ratify the three MOAs on Monday, June 2 and the School Committee unanimously voted to ratify them on Tuesday, June 3. The three-year pacts with the three LTA bargaining units will run from 2025-2028.
Chair Kristen Grieco Elworthy said the School Committee is “really proud” of the three agreements.
“This represents a collaboration between the School Committee and the LTA,” said Elworthy.
Elworthy thanked then-LTA President Alex Cellucci and the entire bargaining team for “working with us in more than a dozen sessions.” In the wake of voters approving the $4.65 million Proposition 2 ½ override on June 4, Elworthy said the School Department will “retain all of our positions next year.”
“We will not lose any educators or other staff positions,” said Elworthy. “It’s a huge accomplishment for the LTA and for your members.”
In addition to the School Committee unanimously voting in favor of the three MOAs, Town Administrator Rob Dolan also voted in favor of them in the wake of then-Select Board Chair Dick Dalton appointing him to the School District Negotiating Committee.
According to the MOA ratified by the School Committee and LTA Bargaining Unit A, teachers will be receiving a 2 percent increase for the first year of the pact and 3 percent increases in years two and three.
Additionally, the contract will be adding a new step for educators. While previous LTA agreements included 11 steps, the new contract adds “an additional Step 12 at an increase of 5 percent over Step 11.” The pact will also “increase Steps 1-12 by 2 percent.”
Elworthy stated in an email sent to the Villager that educators will be receiving cost of living adjustments (COLA) along with step increases next year.
“We added a Step 12 at a 5 percent increase from Step 11, so that is effectively a 7 percent increase for them next year,” Elworthy wrote. “No one is getting a 2 percent increase next year between the steps and the new, additional top step.”
According to the MOA with LTA Unit B, the school system’s paraprofessionals will be receiving a $5 per-hour raise for the 2025-2026 academic year.
“After 90 days, an additional 50 cents per hour will be added to Step 4,” the MOA with LTA Unit B states.
The MOA with LTA Unit B also states that paraprofessionals will be receiving 3 percent raises in years two and three of the contract.
According to the MOA between the School Committee and the LTA’s Unit C, most school secretaries and clerks will be receiving a $3 increase but employees on the highest step, Step 9, will be receiving an additional $1 for the 2025-2026 academic year. Secretaries and clerks will also be receiving 3 percent salary increases in years two and three of the contract.
Elworthy also noted that the LTA contract includes “six weeks of paid parental leave for all units.”
“They can then use sick time, if they’d like, for an additional six,” said Elworthy.
The School Committee and the LTA wrote in a joint statement that, “We are proud that both groups were able to come together in collaboration and good faith to reach an agreement prior to the expiration of the current contract.”
“This contract reflects our shared commitment to supporting the students of Lynnfield by investing in a strong, stable and high-quality educational environment,” the School Committee and LTA stated.
The School Committee and the LTA also wrote in the joint statement that, “This contract will ensure continuity for our students and will allow Lynnfield Public Schools to continue offering the high-quality educational environment that our district is known for.”
“Together, we believe this contract represents a fair and competitive package that supports our educators, makes Lynnfield a competitive place to teach and learn and affirms our mutual goal: Delivering the best possible education for every Lynnfield student,” the School Committee and LTA stated.
The School Committee and the Lynnfield Cafeteria Workers Association recently ratified a three-year contract. Cafeteria workers will be receiving 3 percent raises in each year of that three-year pact.