Update on Negotiations from School Committee Chair - September 10, 2024

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    Letterhead for the Chelsea School Committee that includes address and phone number

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    Dear Chelsea Public Schools Community, 

    I am writing to provide an update regarding the status of the School Committee’s negotiations over new contracts for our three bargaining units that are represented by the Chelsea Teachers’ Union (CTU).  These include contracts for the educator unit, the paraprofessional unit, and the clerk unit.

    The Chelsea School Committee is committed to reaching agreements that serve the interests of employees, students and the community as a whole.   

    Since 2020, the School Committee has succeeded in adding a number of positions across the district, including 239 within these three bargaining units.  This investment in positions has provided important services to CPS students and families. Our goal is to reach agreements that avoid a reduction to these positions, while also providing robust salary/wage increases for our staff. 

    While the parties have reached agreements on some issues, highlights of the School Committee’s current additional proposals include: 

    • A twelve percent (12%) increase in educator, paraprofessional. and clerk salary/wage schedules over the duration of the three-year contract for each group.  

    • Members of all units will also have the opportunity to qualify for and receive an additional stipend for serving as interpreters within our schools.   

    • Enhanced amounts for paraprofessionals and clerks based upon specialized duties, market adjustments, or new steps. 

    • For FY25, employees in each of the three bargaining units who take parental leave will be afforded three (3) weeks of paid time, separate and apart from their use of paid time they have accrued for sick and personal leave under existing contracts.   In FY 26, this extra designated paid time for parental leave will increase to four (4) weeks.   This is more than the majority of Districts in Massachusetts.

    We have tremendous respect and gratitude for our staff members.  They are the foundation of Chelsea Public Schools and have lifelong impacts on our students and families.  We look forward to continuing to work with CTU leadership in an effort to reach contracts that address the needs of both our staff, the community and the students we are all here to serve.    We will provide the community with additional updates as we proceed.     

    Sincerely, 

    Ana Hernandez

    Chairwoman

    Chelsea School Committee