School Committee Approves Contract With BEU

The Brookline School Committee unanimously ratified a memorandum of agreement with the Brookline Educators Union Thursday night.

“Taken as a whole, we believe the agreement is balanced and fair,” said Alan Morse, chair of the Negotiations Subcommittee. “Above all, it fosters teachers’ effectiveness. Therefore, it enhances the quality of students’ learning, which is really the heart of our schools.”

The agreement, which has already been approved by the BEU, is a three-year contract from 2011 to 2014. One provision, which goes into effect during the 2013-2014 school year, adds 40 minutes per week for the collaboration between teachers and staff.

“Throughout our discussions, the union consistently emphasized the need for more time for professional collaboration among teachers and staff,” said Morse. “And we heard that. And we also agreed to that.”

Under the contract, wages for teachers and administrators will not increase for the first year, but for the second and third there will be a two percent bump each year. For paraprofessionals, there is no increase the first year, a one percent jump the next year before an additional two percent the final year. The paraprofessionals will also be offered additional holidays in the second and third years.

The union will receive two more sick days and an option to use any sick day to take care of an ill family member.

School Committee member Susan Wolf Ditkoff reminded the public there is always a balancing of both financial concerns and teacher compensation in these negotiations.

“Thank you for carefully walking the line between those two issues,” she said to Morse.