Teachers, parents press Bedford committee to resolve stalled contract talks

Several Bedford teachers and residents used the public-comment period on May 28 to urge the school committee to resolve ongoing contract negotiations with the Bedford Education Association.

Pat Flaherty Dawson, a second-grade teacher at Davis School and vice president of the BEA, said the union is concerned that discussions remain unresolved as the school year ends. "This is not an 11th hour request," she told the committee, recalling that teachers accepted a 0% cost-of-living increase in 2020 during the pandemic. Flaherty Dawson said teachers and education support professionals' wages have fallen behind in recent years, noting "a 25% turnover in professional staff and a 100% turnover in ESP staff" and asking the committee to commit to a contract that restores competitiveness.

Other speakers reinforced the plea. Erin Campbell, a parent and long-time resident, described researching step-salary comparisons and asked the committee to "honor the Bedford tradition of absolutely respecting our teachers." Rosie Brennan, a North Reading second-grade public-school teacher who lives in Bedford, cited recent pressure from the expiration of federal pandemic relief funds and urged competitive pay to retain talent. Richard Donnelly, a longtime Bedford High School teacher, warned the committee that Bedford risks losing experienced teachers unless pay is addressed.

Committee members did not take a contract vote during the meeting; they later recessed into executive session to discuss strategy for BEA negotiations. Committee members previously voted to authorize a Department of Revenue financial-management review (see separate article) to strengthen fiscal controls and budgeting processes that committee leaders said will inform future bargaining and budget requests.

The committee did not announce a timetable for concluding negotiations during the public portion of the meeting.