School Committee OKs Pittsfield Administrator Contracts
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and administrators' union have settled on a contract that runs retroactively from 2024 to 2027.
On Wednesday, after one last executive session, the Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association collective bargaining agreement was approved. The union, which represents deans, principals, vice and assistant principals, school psychologists, coordinators and adjustment counselors, has already ratified it.
"We're grateful for the work of these employees and we're glad that we reached an agreement," committee member Sara Hathaway said.
Chair William Cameron reported that the most salient items were the compensation package and work hours, which have been raised to eight hours per day.
"This agreement also removes four positions from the bargaining unit, four administrative positions," he noted.
"They were removed from the bargaining unit or we were seeking to have their removal because of the fact that they were supervising other members of the same bargaining unit, which has been problematical in the past."
PEAA members at the elementary level will work an additional hour and 15 minutes beyond the teachers' workday every day at the supervisor's discretion. At the secondary level, members will work an additional hour.
The current teacher workdays for elementary school run from 8:40 a.m. to 3:35 p.m., the middle school day runs from 7:20 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., and high school from 7:15 a.m. to 2:39 p.m.
"The additional time shall be regularly scheduled after dialogue between the PEAA members and the Supervisor. Any deviation will be discussed with the PEAA member at least a week ahead of time," the contract reads.
"This does not include crisis situations. This includes district-directed professional development, availability for staff consultation, documentation of discipline, or other logs/documentation. The additional time shall not be used to run after-school programs or supervise sporting events."
On days that the district is closed for inclement weather or an emergency situation, PEAA members can work remotely with the supervisor's approval.
Middle and high school vice principals saw a raise from $86,371 at Step 1 in 2023 to $90,917 at Step 1 in 2024. By 2026, that position will be paid $95,538 at Step 1.
Assistant principals are the highest paid in the new contract, earning between about $100,000 and $110,000 in 2026, because 10 more workdays have been added to their schedules. School psychologists and adjustment counselors are the lowest paid in the union, earning between about $90,000 and $96,000 in 2026.
Longevity compensation was also increased, rising by $100 to $1,100 for 10- to 14-year employees and increasing by $300 to $2,600 for employees of 30 or more years.
After more than a year of negotiations, a contract for the United Educators of Pittsfield has not yet been approved. President Jeanne Lemmond confirmed via email that the union has reached a tentative agreement.
At the Jan. 22 School Committee meeting, Lemmond said outstanding items were "School Committee proposals that micromanage each teacher's day-to-day teachings that add to their already enormous workload and that do not and will not improve the education of our students."
"As you may recall, we thought we had these issues worked out by a subcommittee who wrangled with these issues but we are now hearing that the committee are not satisfied with the subcommittee solution," she said.
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