SAUGUS — The School Committee on Thursday voted unanimously to approve a new, amended contract for the Saugus Educators Association that not only raises pay for current teachers, but also increases starting pay as the district looks to attract high-quality educators.
The committee had previously ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with the union in November, but negotiations between the two groups were reopened, a move the union formally requested in January. The agreement had stipulated that negotiations would be reopened if there was more money available for teachers.
SEA President Bill Palmerini thanked the committee, and particularly Vice Chair John Hatch and member Ryan Fisher, who both sat on the negotiating committee. Palmerini said this round of negotiations — the sixth he has been a part of in his 38 years — was the most collaborative process he has experienced to date.
“To work with John and Ryan so collaboratively, my members did not feel like we were fighting each other,” Palmerini said. “This was so heartwarming to go in and have camaraderie. We felt like the School Committee, all of you, were looking out for the benefit of the teachers and you understood exactly what we were doing.”
“Everything just went so well,” he added, noting that the vote to authorize the agreement was nearly unanimous on the part of the union, with only two members voting against ratification.
Fisher said members of the committee knew that the district owed its teachers more than they could offer when the initial agreement was signed, asking for an extension of trust.
They paid off that trust Thursday.
“We’re really happy to be able to vote on this contract… everyone deserves it, especially the teachers,” Fisher said.
Hatch said the contract represents the committee treating the teachers as they should be treated. And, he said, the new agreement could go a long way toward making Saugus an attractive place to work for younger teachers.
“They have a very difficult job in this day and age,” he said. “Our main focus is putting more teachers in the classroom to affect our student body as much as we can.”
School Committee Chair Vincent Serino said the committee had really forged a partnership with the union.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the teachers, it’s about the faculty, and it’s about respect,” he said. “I think I speak for all of us when I say we’re here to make a difference and the teachers and the faculty, support staff, are the ones who implement the difference. It’s really important they’re compensated for what they do.”
