The Longmeadow School Committee unanimously approved a tentative memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Longmeadow Education Association Unit E on Dec. 16, 2025.
Superintendent Doctor O'Shea said the three-year agreement (2025–2028) covers a unit of specialists across the district and contains several changes to employee benefits and compensation: expanded parental leave, expanded bereavement leave, additional health and safety provisions, FMLA-like benefits for certain employees not otherwise eligible based on work year, small longevity adjustments, and specific scheduling and preparation-time allowances for certified behavior specialists (BCBAs) and registered behavior technicians (RBTs). "It would adjust the hourly rate for RBTs by $2 per hour in the first year of the contract," O'Shea said, and noted other categories would see increases of about 2.5–3% in hourly rates each year.
The superintendent described the MOA as consistent with recently settled contracts and thanked the Longmeadow Education Association for collaborative negotiations. Following a motion and second, the committee approved the MOA by roll-call vote with all members voting yes.
The agreement will be incorporated into the district's collective bargaining records; the superintendent said staff will follow up on implementation details such as scheduling and certification oversight for affected employees.