School Board OKs Tentative Deal With Teachers' Union on New Contract

Peabody teachers are due to receive 2 percent pay raises for this past year and each of the next two years under a new contract with the School Committee.

Committee members unanimously voted to approve a tentative agreement on the new three-year deal Tuesday night, offering little comment on the matter.

Mayor Ted Bettencourt, who chairs the board, said the union has already voted to ratify the contract and now with the board's approval, final language needs to be drafted for both sides to sign off on.

The last contract expired June 30, 2012; the new contract is effective July 1, 2012 until June 30, 2015.

In addition to the pay raises, the agreement also includes small increases in stipends for department heads and increased longevity bonuses, said Bettencourt. No steps were modified or added for educational attainment and there were no changes in benefits.

Stipends for department heads supervising 10 or more teachers will now be $5,500 while those responsible for fewer teachers will receive $4,500. The longevity bonuses are awarded on a scale ranging from five years of service in Peabody ($350) to 30 years in the school system ($4,150).

"I do think it's a fair deal to the teachers...and a fair deal for taxpayers," Bettencourt said, explaining that it rewards the hard work and commitment of the city's teachers while being mindful of the tough economic environment.

He said one of the main reasons he felt comfortable with those pay raises for all union and non-union employees was because of the windfall in savings the city is realizing now on health insurance.

Bettencourt successfully negotiated a four-year deal with all 14 of the city's unions last summer that moved employees into the state's Group Insurance Commission system and will save the city $10 million - $15 million during the life of the agreement.

Last year alone the city saved about $3 million on insurance, he estimated.

Bettencourt said the School Committee won't need a supplemental budget appropriation either from the City Council -- enough money was set aside in anticipation of a settlement (and thus included in the Fiscal 2014 budget) to cover the first two years of contractual raises.

School Superintendent Joe Mastrocola credited Bettencourt with taking the lead role in negotiations and said the new contract was settled because of the mayor's focus and determination.

Mastrocola said the contract establishes a good foundation for the new teacher evaluation system and allows the district to fully focus on student achievement, raising test scores and continue to make headway in math, language arts, science and other subject areas.

Mastrocola likewise said the deal was fiscally responsible while also recognizing the value of the district's professional educators, many of whom now have at least 10 years in Peabody. 

Bettencourt characterized the negotiations as "respectful" and devoid of any "hostility." He believes that stemmed from "goodwill" and "trust" developed with the unions during healthcare negotiations last year.

"It was not contentious, as has happened in past years," he said.

Negotiations this time around had stalled until recent weeks when Bettencourt stepped in and took a more active role, but he said both sides were meeting regularly for the past six months.

The city's negotiating team consisted of Bettencourt, Assistant City Solicitor Donald Conn and School Committee members Dave McGeney, Ed Charest and Jarrod Hochman. Mastrocola and Assistant Superintendent Cara Murtagh were also involved.

The union's team consisted of Peabody Federation of Teachers President Bruce Nelson, Ann Marie Dubois and several other members.

In addition to the agreement with Unit A, which covers the teachers, school board members also voted Tuesday to ratify a similar agreement with school employees in AFSCME Local 364.

That bargaining unit covers custodians, clerical staff and bus drivers. The negotiating team still has to settle now with Unit B (guidance counselors, deans and housemasters) and Unit C (paraprofessionals).