The Melrose Education Responds to Melrose School Committee

The Melrose Education Association (MEA) is disappointed in the misinformation that the Melrose School Committee (Committee) is spreading regarding our contract negotiations.
While it is true that we are close to finalizing an agreement for our Unit C Paraprofessionals, we have three main unresolved issues for our Unit A Teachers. The three proposals are regarding compensation, prep time, and racial justice language.
The Committee’s characterization of its financial proposal is misleading. The majority of educators are already at the top of the pay scale and only would receive cost of living adjustments. Adjustments to the pay steps themselves are not raises; educators defer their maximum potential earnings by considerably more years compared to other professionals by agreeing to salary schedules that help their districts prepare budgets.
Educators advance to higher levels of pay by working longer in a district and by obtaining additional education themselves. With graduate course tuition continually rising, educators spend far more to further their education than what they gain in salary.
The pay steps must be adjusted annually so wages remain fair and competitive, and so that those at the top of the salary scale receive cost of living adjustments.
Melrose educators continue to rise to the top in quality of education delivery, but remain below average in pay in comparison to our surrounding communities. The MEA’s proposed compensation will help to close the gap between Melrose and those competing communities.
In order for Melrose to retain and recruit quality educators, we believe that the MEA’s latest salary proposal will move us in the right direction. Additionally, the roadblock in an agreement between the MEA’s and Committee’s proposals on compensation is less than a $140,000 difference over the three-year agreement.
Further, the Committee’s claims about reducing meeting time and adding prep time are disingenuous. The reality is that elementary school educators stand only to gain 4 minutes per day to prepare for students, and that 4 minutes includes the transition time between classes. Four minutes. Also, the district’s proposed reduction in staff meeting time is merely a shift in the way meetings will be held and would cause many educators to lose the common planning time with other educators that is crucial to supporting our students.
The MEA has made a proposal to address racial justice and inequities in our schools and is adamant about including this language in the contract. The Committee has ignored a conversation about this social justice language and has rejected this proposal that also includes addressing the recruitment and retention of educators of color. The proposal advocates for implementation of additional supports for our students of color as well.
The MEA will continue to fight for fair contracts that best meet the needs of educators, our students, families, and our community.