After about a year and a half of negotiations, the Belmont Education Association (BEA) voted Thursday night to ratify contracts for all of its bargaining units.
The contracts for Unit A, representing teachers, Unit C, representing administrative assistants and clerical aides, and Unit D, representing professional aides and classroom assistants, are awaiting a vote from the School Committee. The committee plans to meet next week to vote, according to Chair Meghan Moriarty.
“Over the last two weeks, we celebrated Belmont educators and staff who have served our schools for 10, 20, and in some cases more than 30 years, as well as Outstanding Teacher Award recipients. Those moments were reminders of the extraordinary dedication of the people who support Belmont students every day and the importance of retaining and investing in them throughout their careers,” Moriarty wrote in an email to the Voice. “We appreciate the work of the BEA bargaining teams and district administration and everyone who participated in this lengthy process. We look forward to ratifying these contracts next week and moving ahead together with a shared focus on Belmont students.”
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The ratification vote also comes on the heels of the Massachusetts Teachers Association elections. Longtime BEA President John Sullivan ran for the presidential seat but ultimately fell short in the second round of voting. Sullivan confirmed the union’s ratification vote, but was unable to provide further comment at the time.
Negotiations between the BEA and School Committee began in 2024. The current contract expired in August 2025. The two parties entered into state mediation in early March, and have been negotiating a contract for Unit A.
According to the union, its goals were to secure a competitive wage, caseloads and class sizes that allow educators to provide individualized support to students, and more collaboration and preparation time.
Over the past 18 months of negotiations, the parties reached tentative agreements on paid parental leave, expanded access to sick leave banks, and increased longevity payments and stipends, but compensation remained a sticking point.
Just weeks ago, school leaders claimed the union’s salary proposals put the parties $600,000 apart this school year alone, and $1.2 million apart by the 2029-30 school year.
Other tentative agreements included the formation of a Class Size/Caseload Working Group, the addition of a mileage allowance, and a one-time “ratification payment” of $500 per unit member.
“[These agreements] invest in educators and support staff through increased compensation, enhanced sick and parental leave benefits, additional protected time for preparation and collaboration, and additional opportunities for educator input through joint committees,” Moriarty said.