Weymouth School Committee Defends Contract Offer as Teachers and Parents Demand More

WEYMOUTH -- January 5, 2023, Weymouth School Committee faces packed room over stalled teacher contract at January 5 meeting. Negotiations Chair Kathleen Curran defended the committee's wage proposal, saying it represents the highest financial increase offered to the Weymouth Educators Association in the past decade and would keep Weymouth teachers in the top third of state salaries, while disputing community claims that the committee has proposed class size increases. WEA President Dr. Mike Murphy, appearing with Vice President Joanie Cederholm and Secretary Tina Conti, called Curran's account inaccurate and said the district has lost "over 200 educators over the past couple of years." Multiple parents of special education students described transportation failures, understaffed classrooms, and the burden of visiting three schools in a single conference cycle, linking each problem directly to the unresolved contract. The committee unanimously approved two payroll confirmation warrants totaling nearly $1.87 million before adjourning.