The Plymouth School Committee this week approved a new contract that will increase most teachers’ pay by 13½ percent over three years, according to the town’s teachers union.
Members of the 700-member Education Association of Plymouth earlier this month “overwhelmingly” approved the contract, which will be retroactive to July, union president Tom Pinto said.
The school committee approved the agreement on Monday.
“I believe they are the largest raises for teachers ever in Plymouth,” Pinto said.
Despite school officials’ earlier handwringing and dire predictions that they would need to seek additional funding from fall Town Meeting, the existing budget of $119 million (and a separate $1.2 million earmarked for negotiations) will cover the contract — at least for this year, said school officials.
Raises for the first year of the contract will cost roughly $3.1 million — a figure largely made possible by a reduction in force during the spring, which eliminated 29 positions. The department found other jobs for most, but not all, of the employees, Campbell said.
One teacher was laid off, Pinto said.
“It’s a great contract on both sides,” said school committee chair Michelle Badger.
“We were creative in the way we did the raises to ensure we would have enough in the budget to cover for FY25. Of course, FY26 is going to be difficult for many reasons, as we predicted.”
Campbell said the contract brings Plymouth teachers’ pay more in line with the that of teachers in neighboring towns.
“Over the past two years, we have been very transparent with our community about the pay gap between our district and neighboring schools, addressing concerns for both new and seasoned educators,” he said.
“Recognizing this discrepancy, we made a concerted effort to bridge the gaps during our last contract negotiations.”
The contract provides for two raises in each of its three years.
During the first year, teachers will receive two raises — each 2 percent. In the second year, everyone will receive a 1.5 percent raise, but an additional step 12 will be added to the current pay scale of steps 1 through 11. Those who qualify for step 12 will receive an additional 5 percent boost.
In the third year, everyone will receive two raises, each 1.5 percent.
Most teachers will qualify for the highest pay, Pinto said, because they are already at top scale.
Many others will likely reach step 12 during the course of the contract term.
Those at the top step will receive roughly 13½ percent pay raises over the life of the contract, Pinto said.
For example, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree at top scale now makes $80,982 a year. By the third year of the contract that teacher will earn $92,507, a 14 percent increase.
Those who are not at step 12 will receive roughly 10 percent in raises over the life of the contract, he said.
“It’s really significant,” said Pinto. “We came to a good working relationship with the schools, and it ended up working out,” he said.
Select Board vice chair Kevin Canty applauded the deal.
“I’m glad to see the School Department and the unions reach an agreement that significantly improves teachers’ compensation while remaining within the budget approved at April’s Town Meeting,” Canty said. “Both sides of the negotiations should be commended for their work on this historic agreement.”
The contract also contains a few new benefits — like sick leave buyback on retirement.
Teachers with 20 years of service can cash in up to 100 days of unused sick days – collecting $250 for each 20 days at a time.
The agreement also allows employees to take 14½ paid days a year for serious family illnesses.
And starting June 30, 2027, the town will make contributions to a tax-sheltered employee annuity plan akin to a 401k plan for private employees.
It will match 15 percent of the amount donated by employees — up to $500 a year.
Andrea Estes can be reached at andrea@plymouthindependent.org.