Board approves three‑year tentative agreement for support staff totaling $1.644 million

Superintendent Mike Tornier presented a tentative three‑year collective bargaining agreement between the district and the Bedford Education Personnel Association covering secretaries, clerks and newly included ABA technicians. The contract totals $1,644,000 over three years: $792,000 in year one, $453,000 in year two and roughly $400,000 in year three.

Tornier said the agreement aligns individual employees with their actual years of experience on a consolidated 30‑line salary schedule and provides step increases across the three years (staff described a pattern of larger first‑year placement adjustments followed by equal increments in years two and three). Key negotiated changes include adding ABA techs to the unit, allowing unit members to use either a personal or sick day for snow days, permitting sick time for religious holidays, and modest changes to personal leave request rules. The agreement also clarifies new‑hire placement and adjusts longevity and retirement payments: staff added a $10,000 retirement payment for employees with 15 years of District service (previously a $15,000 payment applied at 20 years) with a cap of three retirees receiving the benefit per year.

Tornier said the association already ratified the tentative agreement; the board voted to accept it, which (per negotiating rules) means the agreement will be presented to voters on the March ballot for final approval. The board approved the motion by voice vote.

The district will implement consolidated pay placement for the 2026‑27 school year and staff will update pay tables and related procedures.