Peabody Public Schools Paraprofessionals Strike Deal With District

PEABODY, MA — The Peabody Federation of Teachers reached a tentative contract agreement with Peabody Public Schools on Tuesday — hours ahead of a planned rally at the School Committee meeting protesting the lack of a "living wage" and contract since September.

The sides announced the tentative deal late Tuesday afternoon, which is said to include increased compensation, additional training and more access to technology in the classroom.

Under the deal, full-time paraprofessionals will earn an annual wage of at least $25,000 per year.

"An agreement such as this has been a long time coming for paraprofessionals in Peabody," said Doreen Blaisdell, a Paraprofessional from the South Memorial Elementary School. "Pay for paras has dramatically increased in nearby communities in recent years and I am proud to see Peabody join that trend."

The planned rally at the Peabody School Committee meeting on Tuesday evening — which the Peabody Federation of Teachers had told Patch was set to include more than 100 paraprofessionals, teachers and supporters — was canceled. Votes by the union and the School Committee to ratify the tentative contract agreement were to be scheduled in the coming days.

"Paraprofessionals play an important role in our schools," said Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who serves as Chairman of the Peabody School Committee. "We feel that this agreement is fair to paraprofessionals and demonstrates how much we value the work they do."

Paraprofessionals assist teachers with classroom instruction, provide individualized support to students and students with disabilities, monitor bus arrival and departure, as well as perform essential tasks within school buildings.

"Recent achievements such as the passage of the Student Opportunity Act and the Fair Share Amendment have provided our schools with the resources to finally take steps to recognize the critically important work done by paraprofessionals to support our students," Peabody Federation of Teachers President Eric Blake said. "The PFT appreciates the School Committee's recognition of the importance of paraprofessionals."

"Paraprofessionals provide much-needed support to our students, staff and families," Peabody Superintendent of Schools Josh Vadala concluded. "I appreciate that we were able to work collaboratively to reach a fair and equitable agreement that values our paraprofessionals and recognizes their professionalism."

Tuesday night's School Committee is set to go on as scheduled at Higgins Middle School.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)