Negotiation FAQs

No. All units are currently working under the contracts that were signed in 2022. Their contracts will remain in effect until the new contracts are agreed upon.

No. The override addressed an anticipated FY26 budget shortfall and helped prevent cuts to staffing, programs, and services. An additional $1.45 million was approved to create a school stabilization fund for future operating costs.

Winthrop School Committee
Layne Petrie, Chair
Gus Martucci, Vice Chair
Jim Letterie, Town Council President
Zachary Purinton
Kaitlin Burroughs
Leslie Darcy
Shannon Kubik
Lisa Howard, Superintendent
Paul Hodnett, Legal Counsel

Winthrop Teachers’ Association
Michael DeFelice, ATC
Lee-Ann Simpson, ATC
Nancy Feeley, GFB
Alexis McEvoy, GFB
Andrea Sullivan, GFB
Tara Beuoy, WMS
Alex Brown, WMS
Gina Massa, WMS
Meaghan Schultheis, WMS
Jaclyn Sernavsky, WMS
Roseanne Spinale, WMS
John Cross, WHS
Kathleen D’Amico, WHS
Brian Donnelly, WHS
Jessica Simpson, WHS
Nick DiPardo, MTA Field Representative

Remaining items include compensation, salary schedules and certain benefit and leave provisions. These require careful financial review and long-term planning. While we have resolved nearly 30% of the contract (mostly operational items), the open topics include:

Wages: Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for all units.
ESP Pay: Structural adjustments for Education Support Professionals.
Leave: Proposals regarding paid parental leave.

The collective bargaining process is designed to ensure continuity. Until a new agreement is reached, all staff continue to operate under the terms of the current contract. This ensures there is no interruption to classroom instruction or daily school operations.

Generally negotiation sessions are not open to the public, however, in the interest of transparency, the WSC and WTA have agreed in our rules to open negotiations to the public whenever possible. Members of the public are welcome to attend as observers but may not participate in the discussions.

Meetings that are open to the public are noticed and posted on the town’s website. 

The School Committee represents taxpayers by negotiating fair, responsible agreements that support staff, protect public resources, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. 

Reaching a fair and sustainable agreement requires careful attention to detail. We are negotiating complex contracts that cover not just compensation, but also working conditions, benefits, and operational policies. Both parties are committed to a thorough review of every proposal to ensure the final agreement serves the best interests of our students, staff, and community for years to come.

The parties will continue meeting regularly to address open issues, including financial terms and paid leave structures.
We are committed to transparency. Official updates, including summaries of agreements and negotiation status, will be posted here regularly.