Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/18/2023
AMHERST — Following a vote in executive session at the July 12 meeting, the Amherst Regional School Committee voted to ratify a new, three-year contract for members of the Amherst-Pelham Education Association.
The meeting began with a motion to enter the executive session for the purpose of voting on the collective bargaining agreement, a move that led to a brief period of debate prior to the vote of 7-1 in favor of the executive session with member Jennifer Shiao voting nay and Peter Demling abstaining from the balloting.
After returning from executive session, the committee announced the vote of 8-1 in favor of ratifying the contract with member Allison McDonald offering a suggested move.
“I think it’s sufficient to say we ratified the contract,” she said.
The contract contains 3% cost of living raises for each year of the new contract covering educators and non-teaching staff members. Parental leave as well as merit increases are also covered in the new agreement.
APEA rejected an earlier proposal brought forth by the committee in May.
Making note of the time spent in negotiations behind the contract agreement, Demling offered his ideas on the approach for the next one.
“If the next contract, if we take as long as we did this time which was almost two years, and we want to finish the next contract before it goes into effect then we need to start the negation process this fall,” he said. “And I’m going to guess that people don’t want to do that.”
Demling also expressed concerned about what he referred to as, “the cost implications” contained in the contract.
“Unless something major changes, we are likely in my estimation and view looking at easily six-figure budget cuts and reductions and people are going to lose their jobs next year and the year after that,” he said.
Demling also expressed his hope that public behavior would be better during the next round of negotiations.
Answering Demling’s comments, McDonald agreed there would be difficulty next time around.
“The earlier that we can start and the more we can start with the spirit of collaboration to try to problem solve as opposed to name calling and finger pointing and shaming, I think is going to make for a much more productive conversation,” she said.
Committee Chair Ben Herrington announced during the open session that the vote was 8-1 in favor without further detail.
The individual votes of each member were not identified.