Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Teacher Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Teachers urge fair contract as negotiations move to mediation
Summary
Dozens of teachers and staff told the North Attleborough School Committee on Nov. 4 that retention, class sizes and pay are pushing educators out, as negotiators enter mediation after the union applied for a third‑party mediator.
The North Attleborough School Committee heard emotional appeals from teachers and staff on Nov. 4 as contract talks with the district’s union moved into mediation.
John, a school‑committee member and negotiator, told the committee the district and the union had reached impasse and the association had applied unilaterally for mediation. "We’re currently in mediation," he said, describing the talks as "civil and professional" but "challenging." He urged a quick resolution.
A steady stream of public commenters — largely current and former teachers — used the committee’s three‑minute public‑comment period to press elected members for a "fair contract" that addresses pay, retention and working conditions. Bridget Gay, a special‑education teacher, said, "Investing in teachers means investing in children and the future of North Attleboro." Alexis Smica, a special‑education support professional, said staff were "stretched thin" and warned that openings and growing caseloads were harming students’ access to services.
Multiple speakers said that pay and affordability make it hard for early‑career teachers to live in the town. Anna Pless, a band director, said she loved teaching locally but could be forced to leave without meaningful across‑the‑board raises. "A raise is not an expense. It is an investment," Pless said.
Committee members acknowledged the concerns and reiterated that negotiations have been ongoing. "Mediation will help us have an outside head," one member said, describing mediation as a tool to break the impasse. Several members and speakers urged clearer, timelier communication from the negotiating subcommittee to the full committee and staff about progress.
The committee did not take a vote on a contract at the meeting. John and other negotiators said they hoped mediation would move the parties toward a settlement that preserves programs and improves recruitment and retention. The school committee encouraged teachers and community members to attend upcoming town council meetings and other budget‑related hearings where resources are determined.
What’s next: negotiators will meet with the mediator; the committee said it will continue to receive updates and plans to coordinate with the town on any budget or staffing proposals required to fund a settlement.
