School Committee, teachers’ union sign new contract

The School Committee and Weston Education Association (WEA) officially inked a new contract on July 22 that expands sick and parental leave, increases elementary school teacher preparation time, offers more summer coverage for guidance counselors and includes a pay increase.

In respective statements, the School Committee and WEA thanked each other for a “respectful and collaborative process.” School Committee Chair Daina Selvig said she was pleased an agreement could be made before the end of the school year, and the contract represents the high value Weston’s residents place on their education system.

“Negotiations are not always easy, but our conversations remained respectful throughout the process,” Selvig said. “I believe the final agreement reflects that work. It recognizes the value of Weston’s teachers and the investment our community continues to make in them, while also including several changes that will enhance support for our students.”

The WEA said it was grateful for the School Committee’s work in the long negotiating process, which often took place after regular business at School Committee meetings, and singled out former Chair Adam Newman, new member Steve Dietz and Selvig for their service on the negotiations committee. WEA president Patricia Desmarais also thanked Negotiations Chair Celeste Loia, who “invested countless hours of preparation making sure every detail was managed with care.”

“We are very grateful to the Weston School Committee for the respectful and collaborative process. Negotiations are never easy, but both sides were overall able to maintain a collegial and productive climate that continually brought us closer to mutual agreement after each session,” the WEA said in a statement. “We are especially grateful for all of the meeting hours put in by both sides throughout the year, particularly in the month of June, in order to reach an agreement before the end of the school year.”

The new agreement begins on Sept. 1 and expires at the end of August 2029, with union members receiving a 2.75%, 3.5% and 3.25% pay increase each fiscal year. Under the new salary schedule, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree at the first step of the pay scale will receive $63,299 in FY27, which will increase to $69,504 by the end of the contract. New longevity bonuses for teachers serving 15, 20, 25 and 30 years are also included.

“We’re very appreciative of the School Committee’s willingness to work and compromise with us to reach a fair and competitive salary increase that will ensure Weston continues to be an attractive place to work for returning and new teachers alike,” the WEA said.

In terms of expanded sick and parental leave, both parents, including teachers who may become parents in the summer, may receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave, with the district contributing the first 20 days of paid parental leave.

Classroom benefits are improved, too, with all elementary school teachers, including special education providers, receiving additional scheduled preparation time each week. The WEA and School Committee also agreed on adding elementary school parent-teacher conferences in the spring, with the union noting it is “excited to be able to have this increased contact time with families.”

Guidance counselors also receive new benefits under the contract, with revamped summer coverage days providing more “predictable access to guidance counselors over the summer for families,” according to the WEA. Selvig added this additional time will allow counselors to prioritize writing college recommendation letters for students.

“This additional time will help counselors give students the thoughtful, individualized support that these applications require for the early fall deadlines,” she said.

Other new benefits include a new meeting schedule, more flexible working hours outside of the student day and new substitute teacher duty protocols at Weston High School.