The Amherst Pelham Education Association and the Amherst Regional School Committee have reached a tentative agreement. Besides seeing increases in cost of living of 3% for each of the three years, some of the other agreements the APEA has fought for and gained are:
- Paraeducators in their first year of work will start at $18.33/hour. In 2024-25, paraeducators starting in the district will earn $20.55.
- In 2024-25, the top step for paraeducators will increase to $28.79/hour.
- Annual merit-based monetary awards for paraeducators.
- 12 weeks of accrued time for parental leave.
The APEA bargaining team will finalize the language of the tentative agreement over the next few days, then present it to all bargaining units for a ratification vote.
The APEA also renews its call for an investigation and resignation at Amherst Regional Schools Central Office. On May 16th, the APEA presented the School Committee with a letter of No Confidence in Dr. Michael Morris, Superintendent, and Ms. Doreen Cunningham, Assistant Superintendent of Diversity, Equity, and Human Resources. Specifically, the APEA called for the School Committee to investigate Dr. Morris and seek the resignation of Ms. Cunningham. Since that meeting, the APEA has heard no updates about what steps the School Committee is taking to investigate and take action with regards to verified claims of unethical and unsafe practices on the part of Morris and Cunningham. The APEA believes that there are actions, separate from the current Title IX investigation, that the School Committee should take. The APEA urges the School Committee to provide the APEA and the community with an update on this matter on or before July 1.