Seymour Board ratifies custodian and paraeducator contracts with multi‑year wage increases

The Seymour Board of Education on Oct. 6 considered and moved to ratify two labor contracts covering district custodians and paraeducators.

District labor counsel summarized the custodial agreement as a four‑year deal, retroactive to July 1, 2025, and extending through June 2029. The agreement provides annual wage increases of 2.75% and phased increases to employee health‑benefit cost share — from about 13% initially to about 15% by the end of the contract term, according to the summary presented to the board. The attorney who summarized the deal characterized the negotiation as constructive and recommended approval.

The board then considered the paraeducator agreement, described in the meeting record as covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028, with annual wage adjustments reported in discussion at roughly 2.95%. Board members and administrators praised both bargaining units for cooperative negotiations and said the contracts support recruitment and retention of essential school employees.

During the vote on the custodial contract a board member recused themself and at least one member registered opposition on the record; the meeting transcript does not include a roll‑call tally in the public record provided. The district attorney and administrators answered clarifying questions from board members before the motions were put to a voice vote.

Why it matters: Custodians and paraeducators are core school staff whose pay and benefits affect daily operations, building maintenance and support for special‑education and general education classrooms. Multi‑year agreements change the district’s wage and benefits trajectory and factor into future budget planning.

What was not decided: The public record distributed with the meeting does not include a detailed roll‑call vote count in the sections provided here. The board’s summary description and counsel’s recommendations are included in the meeting record.