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Medford School Committee ratifies paraprofessionals contracts
Summary
The Medford School Committee voted 6–0, with one member absent, to ratify two paraprofessional agreements that include provisions tied to the extended school day and flexible deployment for duties such as bus monitoring and after‑school events.
The Medford School Committee voted 6–0, with one member absent, to ratify two contracts covering the district's paraprofessionals after returning from executive session.
Committee members said the agreements — described in the meeting as a one‑year deal and a three‑year deal — include provisions tied to the district's extended school day and give the district more flexibility to deploy paraprofessionals for duties such as bus monitoring, after‑school events and other tasks outside traditional classroom duties.
"I just wanted to thank the members of the paraprofessional union, for a really collaborative conversation," Member Russo said during the public vote, adding that the contracts will allow paraprofessionals to support students on buses and help cover after‑school activities.
Speakers at the meeting said the contracts also simplify payroll processing by avoiding retroactive pay once the new schedules take effect. The committee recorded six affirmative votes; one member, Marilyn Gokern, was absent. The committee announced it would notify the paraprofessionals unit that the contracts were ratified.
The ratification followed an executive‑session discussion of multiple bargaining units; committee materials and the meeting record indicate the public vote repeated the executive‑session action in open session.
