Weymouth School Committee Approves $17.3M Capital Plan Amid Teacher Contract Standoff

WEYMOUTH — February 2, 2023 — Weymouth School Committee approves $17.3 million capital request as teachers demand contract settlement. The board voted unanimously at its February 2 meeting to accept a capital plan totaling $17.3 million in requests through fiscal year 2028, with $5.1 million designated as high priority, while a parade of educators, parents, and students filled public comment to demand resolution of the stalled Weymouth Education Association Unit A contract. Resident and teacher Kimberly Ferreira told the board that Unit A salaries had risen just 12.5 percent over eight years — averaging 1.56 percent annually — while Social Security increased 22.6 percent over the same period. Danielle Graziano cited state data showing Weymouth ranks ninth out of 11 comparable DESE districts in average teacher salary and is the only one trending downward. Chair Sullivan acknowledged that mediation had been disrupted when the shared mediator was pulled to Woburn, leaving no sessions since the prior school committee meeting. The school budget is due to the mayor's office by March 24, with the committee's final budget vote set for March 23.