WREA president says district improperly deducted health insurance premiums; asks Whittier School Committee to intervene

Katie Stuntton, president of the Whittier Regional Educators Association, told the Whittier Regional Vocational Technical School Committee on Jan. 14 that the union is asking the committee to halt what she described as unlawful payroll deductions and to direct the administration to comply with the collective bargaining agreement and Massachusetts law.

"We the undersigned educators of the Whittier Regional Education Association respectfully ask for your assistance in resolving the ongoing problem of the district's handling of our members' health insurance premiums," Stuntton said, submitting a petition she said carries 75 teacher signatures. She said the union first raised the issue in June 2025 and has repeatedly sought information required to negotiate in good faith.

Stuntton alleged that district administrators "unilaterally and unlawfully subjected members to additional payroll deductions to account for a mistake they have refused to take responsibility for," and that at least two members were assessed additional payments even after the administration agreed to "cease and desist" further deductions until a resolution was reached.

The petition names Superintendent Maren Lynch and business manager Cara Cosmus as the administration officials the union has engaged in attempts to resolve the issue. Stuntton said WREA and district leaders had scheduled a meeting for the following week between WREA leadership, Superintendent Lynch and Business Manager Cosmus to seek a "mutually agreeable solution," and she asked the school committee to "exercise [its] responsibility" as the employer of record to ensure compliance with law and contract.

The committee did not vote on the petition during the public-comment period. No formal resolution or directive to administration was recorded in the meeting minutes; committee business proceeded to approval of minutes and routine votes. Stuntton said union members are "frustrated and angry" and that affected employees are left "wondering if they're going to be the next employee to be missing hundreds of dollars from their next paycheck."

The petition and Stuntton's remarks were entered into the public record at the meeting. The next procedural step reported during the session was the planned sit-down between WREA leaders, Superintendent Lynch and Business Manager Cosmus, scheduled for the week after the Jan. 14 meeting.

What happened next: The committee moved on to other agenda items, including approval of minutes and financial reports, and later voted to enter executive session on litigation. No public vote addressing the WREA petition was taken during the meeting.