Saugus school board approves contract, raise for teachers

SAUGUS – The Saugus School Committee voted unanimously Thursday to approve a new three-year contract for the Saugus Educators Association.The previous contract expired in August of 2012, and union representatives and the committee have been meeting in executive session since then to negotiate terms for a new deal.?I?m very excited to say we have come to an agreement,” said School Committee Chairman Wendy Reed. “I have to say these negotiations were more of a positive experience than I have had in the past. I felt a lot of cooperation at the table and a lot of understanding going back and forth. I appreciate that.”Brendon Sullivan, president of the Saugus Educators Association, said the contract includes a 4 percent pay raise over three years and was ratified by the union on Monday.?Negotiations are always a lot of work and this wasn?t any exception,” he said. “We have a whole new evaluation system that we have to implement coming from the state. People were really focused on trying to do what was right for the district and to get the work done.”Sullivan said the new teacher evaluation system was the key to negotiations.?It was a lot of work to wrap our heads around it and to make sure we met the requirements of the state but to make sure it worked for the teachers and students of Saugus, and I think we?ve done that,” said Sullivan.Reed said the negotiations were much different than previous discussions, which she called “the nasty days.”?This was very refreshing to actually be able to sit across the table from professionals and have a professional conversation,” she said.In other business, the committee briefly discussed Superintendent Richard Langlois being named the superintendent in Marlborough.Reed said it would be “inappropriate” to discuss filling the position yet since the committee has not received a formal letter of resignation from Langlois.?Once the superintendent submits a letter of resignation we?ll come up with a separation agreement which will basically outline when he?ll depart,” said Reed.Reed said Langlois has “indicated” he would like to remain on until the end of the school year.Langlois, who was appointed superintendent in 2008, was named one of three finalists on Jan. 17 and was picked by the Marlborough School Committee on Jan. 26.Langlois was at a conference for the Massachusetts Association of Superintendents Thursday.Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected].