WORCESTER – Friday, May 26, 2023 – Today, the Worcester School Committee and the Educational Association of Worcester (EAW) announced that a tentative agreement on a contract for paraeducators in the Worcester Public Schools has been reached.
Details of the tentative agreement will be shared with EAW members at an upcoming meeting. Following the union vote, it will go before the School Committee for a ratification vote by its members. The contract is in effect retroactively from September 1, 2022 through August 31, 2026.
The tentative agreement includes significant salary scale increases that make the district’s paraeducator pay highly competitive with nearby districts. It also includes compensation for college credits, additional stipends, a one-time payment, and immediate access to sick leave.
“I am proud that our paraeducators are being recognized with competitive and equitable compensation. It honors their hard work and dedication to our students,” said Mayor Joseph Petty. “I thank everyone at the bargaining discussions for coming together to support our paraeducators.”
“With this contract, we have made major strides to getting paraeducators a living wage, and the recognition they deserve for their invaluable contribution to student learning,” said EAW President Melissa Verdier.