Winthrop School Administrators Association Signs One-Year Contract

By Adam Swift

The School Committee approved a one-year contract for the Winthrop Administrators Association on Monday.

The contract, which includes a two percent raise and an additional sick day, is retroactive to the beginning of the school year. The district will now begin negotiations for either a new two- or three-year bargaining agreement for the association, which includes assistant principals, the athletic director, special education evaluation team chairs, and the grants and after school coordinator position.

“They were on the same track as the teachers, the ESPs (education support professionals), and everybody else that we have already settled with,” said Superintendent of Schools Lisa Howard. “But being administrators, they were patient and waited until everything else was settled before they came to the table. They are due for a contract that would be for the past school year, and the clock is running down.”

Howard said the association asked to settle its contract for the current school year, and then to reenter into negotiations for either a two- or three-year contract.

The two percent raise is retroactive for the current year, Howard said. She said the administrators previously were allotted 13 sick days per year, compared to 15 for teachers, and successfully negotiated to increase the annual sick days to 14.

In addition, Howard said the contract includes the listing of several stipend positions that make them eligible for retirement deductions.

“They voted (Sunday) to accept this … so once the School Committee votes, we can provide them with retroactive pay and move forward to negotiations for their next contract,” said Howard.