Hull committee unanimously ratifies updated teacher-evaluation appendix after joint labor-management review

The school committee voted unanimously to ratify a revised Appendix E — the part of the collective bargaining agreement that governs teacher evaluation — following a yearlong collaborative rewrite between district administrators and the Hull Teachers' Association (HTA).

Mark McDonald, HTA co-president, and administrators described a process of sustained collaboration that included monthly joint meetings, careful comparison with the DESE 2024 rubric, and a negotiated timeline for observations and post-observation conversations. "We were all really proud of the work that we did together in revamping this really lengthy section of the contract," McDonald said.

Key changes the committee approved include clearer cycles for evaluation, an expectation that educators receive at least one mini-observation per year (so evaluators observe classroom practice in person at least once annually), and more flexibility for teachers to select evidence they will use to demonstrate their performance under the rubric. Administrators said the revision also includes an attached visual timeline that will be posted to staff so everyone can more easily understand steps and deadlines in a given evaluation cycle.

Both sides emphasized the collaborative nature of the rewrite and said the ratification returns the updated language to the bargaining process for final incorporation into the contract. The committee asked administrators to post the timeline and supporting guidance to make the new process clear to teachers and evaluators before the next school year.

Next steps: the HTA is expected to ratify the agreement at its membership table; upon mutual ratification, Human Resources will incorporate the revised Appendix E into the collective bargaining agreement and publish timelines and templates for staff.