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Related-service assistants urge Brockton School Committee for raises after excluded from contract increase
Summary
Speech-language, occupational and physical‑therapy assistants told the school committee they did not receive the cost‑of‑living increase awarded to unionized teachers and described heavy caseloads, certification requirements and out‑of‑pocket work. They asked the committee to adjust contracts and pay equity.
Public commenters representing Brockton’s related‑service workforce told the School Committee on April 7 that assistants providing occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech‑language services were left out of this year’s pay increases and urged the district to change that decision.
Tony Mazone, a speech‑language pathology assistant at the Barrett Russell Early Childhood Center, told the committee his case load is 69 students and described the day‑to‑day responsibilities assistants carry out, including individual and small‑group therapy, IEP work and maintaining specialized equipment. “In October 2025 we received an email that the school committee determined we do not get a raise for this school year,” Mazone said. “This year, the BEA got a 3% raise and we got nothing.”
Several other assistants made similar points. Charlene Valdez, an occupational therapy assistant who said she has worked in Brockton Public Schools since 1997, traced a history in which related‑service providers once received the same percentage increases as teachers and said this is the first year they did not. Toita (Felicia) Rivero, an OTA at Raymond School, said she carries a case load of more than 50 students and repeatedly adapts schedules and services to ensure minutes on students’ IEPs are met.
Occupational therapist Trisha Kennedy and physical therapist Kevin Mooney described the training and certification requirements for related‑service assistants and argued the district receives strong value from their work. Kennedy said these staff lack a union and collective bargaining, which limits their ability to secure raises; Mooney stressed the clinical effectiveness assistants provide across classrooms and specialized settings.
Committee members heard the testimony but did not vote on an immediate contract change. Superintendent Dr. Teleani noted the district is preparing its FY27 budget and finance staff will present numbers for the committee in May; several members signaled they want more information about budget trade‑offs and revenue before committing to a specific salary adjustment.
The public comments put pay equity and staffing strain at the center of the committee’s summer budget work. Request: assistants asked the committee to review the October 2025 decision and bring a proposal back to the committee in short order so that pay and contract language can be addressed ahead of next school year.
