The bargaining teams of the Holyoke Teachers Association (HTA) and School Committee reached a tentative contract agreement during their mediation session on May 6.
The week prior—on Friday, May 1—the Holyoke Therapists' Association also reached a tentative contract agreement. Details about that agreement will be posted on the district website soon.
Both contract agreements now need to be ratified by their respective union members before they will go into effect.
“These contract agreements are important milestones that will benefit our staff, students, families, and the community as a whole,” said Interim Superintendent Anthony Soto. “The tentative agreement reached on May 6 with the HTA reflects months of discussion, collaboration, and compromise, all aimed at reaching a fair agreement for Holyoke teachers while balancing the needs of students and the district’s financial position. It is a testament to the ambitious outcomes that can be achieved while working together under local governance.”
With the tentative HTA agreement now in place, there are two remaining steps that need to happen before it can be officially ratified: The HTA will schedule an information session for members and then hold an official vote. The School Committee must also vote in favor of providing retroactive pay back to July 1, 2025.
HTA contract agreement highlights include:
More than a 20% increase in teacher salaries over three years (average increase of $12,750)
A starting salary of $55,000 for new teachers with a bachelor’s degree, which is the highest among nine nearby comparison districts
A significantly reduced work day and work year
Enhanced sick, personal, and other leave benefits
Additional opportunities for teacher voice to inform decision making
The May 6 mediation session with the HTA produced compromises in six key areas, which helped both bargaining teams reach the tentative agreement:
Reduction of annual teacher work days to 185 (down from the current 188 days per school year and a reduction from the previous tentative agreement of 186)
Introduction of a third educational lane for those with two master’s degrees/certificates of advanced graduate study (CAGs), while maintaining a fourth lane for professional licensure on the salary schedule
Seven days of leave for childbonding (up from five included in the district’s earlier proposal)
Reduction of eligibility requirement to use catastrophic leave from five years to three years
Greater flexibility in using bereavement leave
Superintendent discretion to allow more categories of employees to be eligible for additional compensation in critical needs areas
The collective bargaining page on the district website will be updated soon to reflect the terms included in the tentative agreement.