Educators, parents press Pittsfield School Committee to finalize UEP contract

Members of the United Educators of Pittsfield asked the Pittsfield School Committee on Monday to finalize a contract the union says was agreed to after lengthy bargaining.

The request came during the public-comment period, where several teachers, paraprofessionals and parents described operational problems they attribute to the lack of a signed contract. "We came to an agreement at 12:15AM on 01/30/2025 after a marathon session of bargaining. And yet, 10 weeks later, we still have not a finalized agreement," said Jean Lehi, speaking for the UEP.

Why it matters: Committee members heard repeated accounts of staff in limbo about retirement pay, recruiting and retention problems, and increased workloads for remaining staff. The speakers said those conditions pose a risk to classroom stability and student services.

Details from the floor: Lisa Robinson, who identified herself as a Reed teacher and near‑retiree, told the committee, "I have applied for retirement, but downtown has refused to give me the finalized paperwork. I need to know what my pay will be in July, or if I will even get pay." Justin Kai Burdick, an elementary teacher and lifelong Pittsfield resident, criticized the committee for slow negotiations and urged voters to weigh committee members' records on contract negotiations when considering future candidates.

Other speakers described classroom and student-support gaps. Michael Vincent Bushey, an exploratory arts teacher, said behavior-management supports are insufficient and called delays “dangerous.” Several speakers pressed the committee to finalize pay scales and language for related-service staff, including speech, occupational and physical therapists.

Committee response and next steps: The meeting record shows the committee later moved into executive session under the statutory exemption for collective bargaining strategy; that motion was approved by roll call. The public comments also referenced a pending UEP membership meeting on April 15, where union leadership planned a vote if the contract was finalized in time.

What was not decided: The committee did not announce a signed, finalized public contract during the meeting. Members did not specify a new public timeline for finalization beyond the executive-session bargaining item recorded later in the agenda.

Context: Speakers repeatedly linked recruitment and retention problems to the unsigned contract, saying new hires are hesitant to accept positions without confirmed pay scales and job descriptions. Multiple public commenters said HR has told them recruitment is constrained by the absence of finalized salary schedules.