Peabody school committee approves multiple labor agreements; one member votes against teachers’ memorandum over start-time concerns

Peabody — On Aug. 26 the Peabody School Committee approved several labor agreements, including a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the district’s teachers (Unit A), but one member recorded a formal no vote because of concerns about communication and implementation of elementary start-time changes.

The committee’s finance subcommittee chair brought the Unit A MOA to the full committee and moved its approval; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. School Committee member Missus Dunn said she could not support the teachers’ MOA because of a disagreement that emerged at the last minute about elementary school start times. "I will not be supporting the Unit A MOA because of a problem that came up at the very last minute last week with start times on the elementary school level," Dunn said. She said staff and parents had been confused about how the contract language would be applied and that some members who voted for the agreement had not understood its full effect.

Committee members and district leaders thanked union leaders for professional negotiations. The committee also approved MOAs with the district administrators (Unit B) and the Traffic Supervisors Association; those motions passed by roll call without recorded dissent.

What the votes mean: the Unit A MOA is in effect as approved by the committee, despite the recorded no vote. The committee and administration said they will monitor implementation closely and respond to concerns about scheduling and communication raised by staff and parents.