Teachers and parents accuse district of union retaliation; committee approves Puerto Rico trip pending MIAA sign‑off

At its June meeting, the Holyoke School Committee heard more than a dozen public commenters—teachers, parents and union leaders—urge the district to reinstate a Holio High School teacher whose contract was not renewed, calling the action retaliation for union organizing.

"This is an explicit violation of protected union activity under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 150E," Nick Cream, who identified himself as president of the Holio Teachers Association and an ethnic studies teacher at Dean Tech, told the committee. He said the HTA would file unfair labor practice charges against Holyoke Public Schools and its agents.

Several other speakers described the teacher as an active organizer and a highly regarded classroom instructor. "He has exemplary evaluations, and this non‑renewal risks producing a chilling effect," Saskia Fabricant, an ELD teacher at Holio High North, said. Parents and colleagues echoed that the action appeared timed after visible union participation and urged the committee to restore the educator.

School leaders and board members did not dispute that the public commenters raised concerns; the administration said personnel matters must follow established administrative and legal processes. The committee did not vote on personnel during public comment. The HTA's plan to file charges and the district's response are matters outside the committee's immediate vote record and remain unresolved in the meeting record.

Separately, the committee considered several business items. It approved an out‑of‑state travel request for a staff member to attend the Massachusetts Urban Special Education Directors Conference in Falmouth (motion made by Mr. Michaelelsson). The board also voted on a student travel request from Holio High School for its basketball team to attend the Hoop Hall invitational in San Juan, Puerto Rico (Dec. 3–7, 2026).

That student travel motion prompted detailed discussion about fundraising, the composition of team attendees, and a prior incident involving Springfield's Central High. Mel Martin, who spoke for the athletic program, said the plan anticipated returning varsity players and some swing players and that organizers are seeking MIAA guidance on whether the event would fit scrimmage or game rules.

Board member Mr. Sheen moved—and members adopted—an amendment conditioning approval on formal MIAA approval and requiring an update to the committee at its July 13 meeting. The committee then approved the trip as amended and repeatedly cautioned that booster fundraising is independent of the district and should not proceed with public solicitation until MIAA sign‑off is obtained.

On personnel policy, the committee reviewed changes to the employee handbook related to child‑bonding FMLA leave for non‑bargaining, year‑round staff. The subcommittee had proposed increasing allowable caregiving sick‑leave use from three days to up to 30 days for qualifying circumstances and adding a short period of child‑bonding leave. Members debated whether to set bonding at seven days; Mr. Michaelelsson moved to increase that amount to 10 days to approximate two full workweeks for year‑round staff. The amendment passed by roll call; the administration said handbook revisions and final policy language will return for review in July and noted collective bargaining agreements remain controlling for their unit members.

The committee also reviewed a wellness policy and a new middle‑school CTE pathways policy (both were discussed and advanced), received a presentation and approved the evaluation report for the interim superintendent, and approved a package of policy updates prepared with an outside consultant. Before adjourning to executive session on collective bargaining, the committee presented a plaque to interim superintendent Mr. Sodto, who said he will remain in Holyoke and support the incoming superintendent.

Next steps: the district said the student trip will proceed only if MIAA grants approval; the committee requested a July 13 update. The HTA's announced unfair labor practice filing and any district response are not resolved in the meeting record and may become the subject of subsequent filings or meetings.