Chelsea School Committee approves multi-unit contracts with raises, expanded leave and class-size pilot

The Chelsea School Committee on Dec. 11 voted to approve collective bargaining agreements covering teachers, paraprofessionals and clerical staff for July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2027, endorsing phased pay increases, new family-leave provisions and a pilot class-size policy.

Christine, who presented the package to the committee, said the contracts represent a “tentative agreement” reached after negotiations that began in February and culminated in a tentative agreement on Dec. 11. “I am happy to present our contract to you,” she told the committee and said the process involved legal counsel Rebecca Bryant and a team of district and school leaders.

Why it matters: the agreements include a total 13% wage increase across the three units—described by the presenter as 3% in year one, 5% in year two and 5% in year three—along with targeted differentials and stipends intended to recruit and retain staff in the district. The contracts also expand paid parental leave and family-care sick leave, and launch a pilot policy for managing class sizes in the district’s constrained facilities.

Key provisions cited by the presenter include: a cumulative 13% wage increase over the contract term; additional pay steps and $1,000 differentials for clerical staff (with another $1,000 the following year); a phased differential and other adjustments for paraprofessionals; a $1,000 annual stipend for staff who complete bilingual certification; increased longevity bonuses; and a step increase available to Chelsea High School graduates who return to teach in the district.

On family leave, the presenter said the contracts align district language with the Massachusetts Parental Leave Act and the federal Family and Medical Leave Act and that, beginning July 1, 2025, the district will offer six fully paid weeks of maternity and paternity leave; for the current year ratified staff would be eligible for three weeks, she said. The agreement also expands the district’s use of sick time for family-care needs: the presenter said the contract allows an additional 45 days to care for a family member and expands sick-bank use so it can be used to care for immediate family members.

The presentation also described a class-size pilot designed around Chelsea’s space constraints. In response to a committee question, the presenter said the district will set numeric thresholds by grade and use a stepwise process—school-level discussion and reassignment, then superintendent review—when a class is at capacity. She said the high school cap for some programs is 140 students total and acknowledged that high-demand AP classes may exceed that in specific sections.

Committee vote counts recorded the committee’s approval on the presented bargaining items with ‘7 in the affirmative and 3 absent’ for the bargaining votes. The presenter noted the agreements are subject to ratification processes where applicable.

Committee members praised the negotiated package. “It was a lot of collaboration, a lot of work,” the presenter said, and Dr. Abeyta later called the contract “an extremely strong contract” that will help attract and retain educators.

What’s next: the committee’s approvals put the agreements into effect from the committee’s side; some portions remain subject to union ratification or additional administrative steps called out in the agreements. The committee adjourned at the end of the meeting.