School committee ratifies three-year contracts for teachers, paraprofessionals and custodians

The Southampton School Committee returned from executive session and approved two labor settlements on Aug. 5, 2026.

A committee member moved "to approve the settlement agreement, between the Southampton Teachers Association and the Southampton School Committee, dated 07/15/2026, the duration of 3 years, and approve the chair to sign on behalf of the school committee." The motion was seconded and carried on a recorded roll call; attending members recorded "aye." The committee then approved a separate three-year settlement covering paraprofessionals, administrative assistants and custodians and authorized the chair to sign on the committee's behalf.

The motions were presented after a closed executive session held under the statutory exemption for collective-bargaining strategy; the chair said the committee met in executive session so members who were not part of the negotiating team could be briefed and ask questions publicly before the ratification votes. No financial terms beyond the three-year duration and the teachers' settlement date (07/15/2026) were read into the public record during the motion. The committee recorded unanimous support from members present and the motions were marked as approved.

Next steps: the chair will sign the agreements as authorized. The superintendent and business administrator had been invited into the executive session to provide background for the ratification vote.