School Committee, CTA ratify new 3-year labor pact

By Mike Berger

Canton School Committee members unanimously and enthusiastically signed off on a new labor agreement with the district’s teachers and educational support professionals at their meeting last Thursday, signaling the start of what Superintendent Derek Folan called a “new chapter for the Canton Public Schools.”

The new three-year pact, which was also ratified last week by members of the Canton Teachers Association (CTA), followed a contentious negotiations process that stretched for months past the expiration of the previous contract, ultimately requiring the assistance of a state mediator. The agreement covers 281 licensed teachers (Unit A) and 91 education support professionals (Unit E) and is retroactive to September 1, 2022.

Folan, in a statement issued to the press following last week’s ratification vote, hailed the new deal as a win-win for both sides. “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that provides mutually beneficial contracts that center on educational excellence, rewards Canton’s educators for their dedication and hard work, and is fiscally sustainable for the community,” he said.

The new contract for Unit A members falls within the “sustainable range” identified by the school leadership team and ensures that Canton teachers will remain among the highest paid in the Hockomock League and among other comparable school districts. All teachers will see an 8 percent pay raise over three years, while the most experienced educators — those who have reached the top step of the pay scale — will receive an additional 1.6 percent bump, pushing the maximum salary to $118,000 in year three of the contract.

For Unit E members, the contract includes a minimum pay raise of 22 percent over three years with wages starting at $24.76 per hour and increasing to $29.57 by FY25 for those with five years of service. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) tutors will now start at $29.71 per hour, and those with 10 years of service by FY25 will earn $38.18 per hour. Senior certified occupational therapy assistants (COTAs) and speech-language pathology assistants (SLPAs) will begin at $39.27 and rise to $46.53 per hour by FY25 with 10 years of service.

In addition to the pay increases, school leaders also touted the “industry-leading” benefits package offered in the new contract, including 12 weeks of maternity and paternity leave for new parents without requiring medical documentation to expand beyond eight weeks. Unit E members will also receive increased paid time off for family illness, enhanced bereavement leave, paid religious and military leave, and access to a sick bank — benefits that are atypical of ESPs across the state.

Regarding the use of teacher personal days, a major sticking point during the negotiations process, school leaders said the new contract includes an updated provision that brings the practice more in line with the industry standard. Specifically, the two sides agreed to end a provision that allowed teachers to roll over unused personal days. Instead, beginning in FY24, any unused personal days will be converted to sick time.

Additionally, CTA members agreed to form a committee to review data on educator absenteeism and develop recommendations that will be considered in future contract talks.

Commenting on the negotiation process, School Committee member Nichola Gallagher said it was “drastically different” and “much more public” than other negotiations she has been involved with. “Despite the challenge this presented, there are leaders on both sides of the table who worked diligently to find common ground,” she said. “Canton is a tight-knit community; by listening to one another we were able to come together to find a resolution that benefits Canton students …

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