Pre‑K teachers urge Springfield district to honor contract language on start dates and year‑end half day

Two preschool teachers who participated in bargaining urged the Springfield School Committee to ensure the district implements pre‑K calendar language in the recently ratified contract.

Micah Orten, introduced to the committee as a pre‑K teacher, said the district moved the start date earlier this year and "that rush beginning forced us to scramble with students already in our classrooms." Orten said that when teachers sought to hold the district accountable the teachers were "painted as the bad guys," and asked the committee to honor the contract requirement for a half day without students at the end of the year so staff can safely clean and close classrooms.

Maureen St. George, a 20‑year preschool teacher and a member of the SEA bargaining team, said the bargaining team negotiated that pre‑K would begin "the Monday after Labor Day" and that the memorandum of agreement did not include a delayed implementation; the bargaining team expected the change to take effect immediately. St. George said the negotiated half‑day at year‑end is necessary so teachers are not required to return over the summer to finish classroom close‑out work.

Both speakers urged calendar amendments and greater district communication. Committee members thanked the speakers; no formal vote or motion to change the calendar occurred at the meeting. The superintendent and other administrators were present and heard the requests; the transcript records no committee vote to direct staff to change the calendar at this meeting.

The speakers framed their requests as enforcement of contract terms and student‑safety measures rather than new benefits.