Union and paraprofessionals ask Wareham committee to reconsider rejected contract, warn of legal costs

The Wareham Education Association and school paraprofessionals publicly urged the Wareham School Committee to reconsider and approve a paraprofessional contract that the committee narrowly rejected on Aug. 21.

Deanna Semple, president of the Wareham Education Association, told the committee the compromise reached in June recognized paraprofessionals’ role and the district’s fiscal limits but that the Aug. 21 vote to reject the contract “reneged on the commitment the district made in June.” Semple said the decision “threatens the district thousands in legal fees by forcing both sides back to the table.”

Paraprofessional Marilyn Morley described the classroom and personal impact of paraprofessional work, sharing a personal testimony about her son’s progress: “He’s gotten really, really good… who is sitting in front of you is only possible because of the work the people sitting behind me have done,” Morley said, asking the committee to reconsider voting to approve the agreement.

Why it matters: paraprofessionals provide daily instructional and therapeutic support for students with special needs; the union says rejecting a negotiated agreement could restart bargaining, delay implementation of agreed pay or working terms, and create further legal expense for the district.

The committee did not take a vote on the contract at the Sept. 4 meeting. Semple asked the committee to “reconsider and revote to approve this contract.”

Ending: The committee heard testimony from union leaders and paraprofessionals and did not take immediate action; union representatives and committee members signaled they will continue discussions on the item in future public sessions.