Nashoba Regional School Committee Approves New Teacher Contract Amid Concerns Over Faculty Veto Power
- Meeting Overview:
At the June 18th Nashoba Regional School Committee meeting, members ratified a new memorandum of agreement with the Nashoba Regional Education Association, covering the period from July 2026 to June 2029. The agreement includes a 3% annual salary increase for teachers. However, the contract’s clauses granting faculty the ability to veto schedule changes drew criticism from some committee members.
The newly ratified contract allows faculty to veto proposed schedule changes by the administration if more than 51% object, a point of contention for some committee members. One member expressed concern that this provision unduly limits administrative control and sets a precedent for using administrative prerogatives as bargaining chips in salary negotiations. Despite attempts to simplify the language around this clause, the member maintained that the administration should have sole authority over scheduling decisions. Another member countered that the contract represents a good compromise, acknowledging that while it might not be perfect, it reflects a balanced agreement between the administration and the educators.
In addition to the debate over veto power, the approved contract was seen as a positive resolution following comprehensive negotiations. Other members expressed gratitude towards the negotiation teams and emphasized the fair nature of the salary terms given the current economic environment. They highlighted the constructive dialogue with the education association and looked forward to continued collaboration over the next three years.
Looking ahead, the committee plans to initiate negotiations for the unit C bargaining unit in September, as this current agreement only pertains to unit A. This prospective negotiation aims to build on the momentum of the recently concluded agreement.
Kirk Downing
School Board Officials:
Amy Cohen, Karen Devine, Dana Ellis, Joseph Gleason, Michael Horesh, Sharon Poch, Scott Powell, Jacki Reinert, Shandor Simon, Amy Vessels, Leah Vivirito
-
Meeting Type:
School Board
-
Committee:
-
Meeting Date:
06/18/2026
-
Recording Published:
06/18/2026
-
Duration:
50 Minutes
-
Notability Score:
Routine
Receive debriefs about local meetings in your inbox weekly:
-
State:
Massachusetts
-
County:
Worcester County
-
Towns:
Bolton, Lancaster, Stow
Recent Meetings Nearby:
- 06/20/2026
- 06/20/2026
- 68 Minutes
- 06/20/2026
- 06/21/2026
- 31 Minutes
- 06/18/2026
- 06/18/2026
- 105 Minutes