Weston School Committee advances instructional policies, enters bargaining executive session

WESTON — November 29, 2022 — Weston School Committee hears calls to settle expired teacher contract as bargaining continues into fall. At the November 29 meeting, WEA President Ed McLaughlin told the committee that Weston teachers were entering a fourth month under a pre-pandemic contract with no salary increase in the face of "historic inflation." School Committee Chair Daina Selvig countered with a detailed presentation showing Weston's average teacher salary of $105,960 ranked fourth highest in the Commonwealth as of 2019-2020 DESE data, with a comprehensive compensation package she said leads the state when healthcare is included — a contribution that helps drive the district's roughly $35,000 per-pupil expenditure. The committee has held 18 negotiating sessions totaling more than 80 hours; Selvig warned that fixed costs are projected to rise by $1 million to $1.5 million from utilities, out-of-district tuition, and enrollment, and that 64.3 percent of the town budget goes to schools with 84 percent of that being salaries. The board also received an external social studies curriculum review finding high teacher buy-in for equity-focused instruction but flagging a persistent shortage of elementary instructional time, approved seven revised instructional policies unanimously, and voted to enter executive session on WEA bargaining strategy.