Dear Quincy Public Schools Community,
As you may know, the Quincy School Committee has been engaged in active contract negotiations
with our educators represented by the Quincy Education Association and the Massachusetts
Teachers Association.
We continue to negotiate responsibly and in good faith, but believe we have reached the point after
16 negotiating sessions where the assistance of an independent, third-party mediator will prove
valuable to the process. Today, we are formally asking the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
under the Department of Labor Relations, to assign that independent mediator to assist both the
School Committee and the QEA in negotiations.
We believe that a fresh set of eyes will help both parties find that path to an agreement, and we are
grateful that the QEA has agreed with our request to invite an independent mediator to the
negotiating table.
The School Committee believes that we have provided a proposal that is fair and deeply respects
the role our educators play in this community. That the QEA does not agree with that assertion is
well within their rights, and that’s why we’re asking for independent assistance.
As part of the negotiating process, the QEA and School Committee have agreed to relax rules on
confidential bargaining, so we can now share with you the details of the most recent package
offered by the School Committee. The full proposal is here.
The proposal includes:
- A 9% raise on base pay over three years
- An increased educational incentive of $500 for educators with a Masters degree plus 45
additional credits
- A top-scale educator salary of $108,000 in the third year of the contract
- Increase in annual longevity payments
- After 15 years, increasing from $400 to $700
- After 20 years, increasing from $500 to $800
- After 25 years, increasing from $600 to $900
- After 30 years, increasing from $750 to $1,300
- An increased reimbursement for nurses’ uniforms to $250
- An increased professional discretionary reimbursement to $450 per educator
- A provision that increases communication with parents/guardians and students through
regular updates of the ASPEN gradebook for Grades 6-12.
- An increase in allowed sick time accruals for parental leave
- A new allowance for sick time accruals to be used for parental leave for non-birthing and
adoptive parents
- An expansion of eligibility for extended sick leave benefits; limited to one-time use
- A new provision allowing medical documentation to be provided by nurse practitioners and
physicians assistants; required on 5th consecutive day of absence
- The addition of a QEA proposal to utilize Election Day as a full day of professional
development
While we understand that this package is not currently acceptable to the QEA, we would take
respectful issue with any assertion that this proposal shows a lack of respect or appreciation for the
work our educators do on a daily basis. Disagreements are fine and we can work through them,
but the harsh rhetoric and tactics being used by the Massachusetts Teachers Association in
communities across Greater Boston in recent months and now here in Quincy are ultimately a
disservice to our classroom educators who work so hard every day on behalf of our young people.
We look forward to resuming negotiations with the Quincy Education Association with the
assistance of a state-appointed mediator.
Sincerely,
Mayor Thomas P. Koch, Chairman
Frank C. Santoro, Vice Chairman