MELROSE — Little can be said publicly by those sitting on either side of a bargaining table, which makes recent developments in the Melrose teachers’ contract impasse so interesting.
At a School Committee meeting Tuesday, October 25, Chair Jen McAndrew talked about some of the issues involved in not being able to come to a new bargaining agreement with the city’s educators. Her prepared statement, which included the fact that she will stepping down from the School Committee’s helm at year’s end, was read a week after many teachers protested outside City Hall, demanding a new and fair contract.
The teachers want more money and more time to prepare to serve students, according to Melrose Education Association President Lisa Donovan.
McAndrew said, in part, that the School Committee remains committed to settling contracts for teachers and the system’s paraprofessionals. “Speaking as one member, I want to acknowledge the voices and activism of our educators on behalf of themselves, their colleagues and their students. We want to work with you — not in an adversarial way — to get a deal that meets your needs, our students’ needs, and the needs of the community, and that includes the fiscal needs and realities of the City of Melrose.
“By way of brief background and update, after months of negotiating, which included progress on some issues, the School Committee put forward a comprehensive package proposal in June in an attempt to reach a deal, maximizing all funds that the District had available for the purposes of these contracts. That offer was rejected, and the Melrose Education Association declined our offer to continue negotiations over the summer. No sessions occurred between June 14 and October 13. Negotiations have resumed, and more sessions are scheduled, though the MEA will not meet in person with the Committee. Per state law, the current terms and conditions of employment, in effect during the term of the contract, continue in place until a successor contract is reached. Therefore, both the educators and the Committee do have the protections and rights of a contract at this time. Educators did receive their step increases, which can range from 2-8% increases; and they will receive all longevity increases, on schedule. When a successor agreement is reached, cost-of-living adjustments could be retroactively applied to July 1, if agreed by both parties (in addition to any other compensation adjustments). In addition, several side letter agreements on key issues have been negotiated and signed along the way. We look forward to a comprehensive, fair agreement and are working to that end.
“Within the context of the negotiations, and the passion we are seeing around collective bargaining, I also want to take a moment to acknowledge the people on this Committee. This has been an extraordinarily challenging time — for everyone. And while no one on this Committee is looking for sympathy, nor do we believe that our feelings should be at the forefront, I want to say this: my colleagues around this horseshoe operate with integrity, lead with care and compassion, work hard and prioritize our students.
“We do so as parents, fellow educators and community leaders. And as volunteers.
“You may not agree with our individual or collective decisions in all cases, and we know that. You may be unhappy with the pace of progress or movement on the contract negotiations, or the budget discussions. We are too.”
“Maybe you are angry. But, over the last few weeks, some of that anger and frustration has taken the form of concerning comments and interactions with School Committee members and their families. So let me be clear: threats, veiled or otherwise, discriminatory comments, accusations leveled at or about School Committee members or family members, including by school and city personnel, are being documented and will not be tolerated. This needs to end. Personally, I am disheartened by this behavior, but not shocked. I know what it feels like to have family members targeted, and, unfortunately, so too does the Superintendent (Dr. Julie Kukenberger). It is deeply unsettling. Do not do this to my colleagues and their children.
“Maybe you don’t care about us — or care for us personally. So be it. But I know you care about this community. And if you care about having good people run for and serve in these local, volunteer positions, we better find a way to express our strongly held views without intimidating people and their families.
“Finally, I would like to express that I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my own role, responsibilities and leadership in the current set of challenging budget circumstances that we are facing. As has been discussed by others, I have been balancing the constraints of understanding and communicating incomplete — and in some cases, shifting — financial information in a timely way. I know that I could have done more to comprehensively communicate with the community at various points over the last several months. And though hindsight is always 20-20, I would do things differently if given the chance to do it over, though I certainly hope we will not be in this position again. I can only hope to apply what I have learned moving forward. I am sorry for my shortcomings and mistakes and especially if they, in any way, left people feeling upset or reflected badly on the Committee. That was not my intention, I hope you know.
“All that said in this very lengthy statement, I want to wrap up by telling the Committee and community that I will not be continuing as Chair moving forward. I will finish out this year, my second, consecutive term. (Our Chair, Vice Chair and Committee Chairs operate on the calendar year schedule, not the school year.) I am voicing this now, with two months left to go in 2022, so that my colleagues have time to think about their own next steps and voice interest in key leadership roles. As has been our general process, I would encourage Committee Members to express their interest in leading the Committee in some capacity during one of our November meetings, and then, if it is the will of the Committee, we will vote in December. I look forward to serving the Committee in whatever ways the new Chair and Vice Chair see fit.
“Thank you for your time and attention, and to everyone listening and watching, and for all you do for Melrose.”
