ORANGE — The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District School Committee has inked contracts with its superintendent and Mahar’s educational support professionals.
Chair Peter Cross signed the three-year contracts on June 15, following months of negotiations. Both contracts go into effect on July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.
“I feel good about it. I think it was a reasonable negotiation,” Cross said of the agreement with the educational support professionals, which account for non-teaching personnel. “There was give and take. And, by and large, it was pretty friendly.”
The contract for educational support professionals, which was updated to be gender-neutral, states that school-year employees will receive 15 sick days per year. These days can roll over up to a cap of 150, and calendar-year employees will get 18, up to 160. Sick leave will be prorated in case of a late hire.
“A mid-year review shall be held for each employee, if requested by the employee or supervisor, or if there are concerns by the supervisor regarding performance,” the contract states.
Paraeducators (a paraprofessional who works in a school) who are assigned to a classroom with students will be reimbursed up to $50 per year to buy educational supplies and materials used in their classes, though it will be subject to approval by the department coordinator and a presentation of receipts. Requests can be made to the coordinator in the respective department using the supplies request form.
The contract also states that when a paraeducator is used as a substitute teacher, he or she will be paid $50 per day of instruction in addition to the paraeducator’s regular rate of pay. The paraeducator will receive $20 per period up to a maximum of $50 per day in addition to the paraeducator’s regular pay rate. This decision must be made on the paraeducator’s part, according to the contract.
Under the contract, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve will be designated as half workdays with no loss of pay. At least one week of vacation for all eligible employees must be taken during a scheduled school vacation period, and all annual vacation is provided on “a use-it-or-lose-it basis.” Five days of unused vacation can be carried over, but at no time can an employee’s accumulation exceed five days above the annual allotment of vacation days.
“If the start of the school day is delayed due to weather or other emergency conditions, administrative assistants shall report to work following a delay of the same duration as the delayed school opening,” the contract states. “For example, if the school day is delayed by two hours and an administrative assistant’s regular start time is 7 a.m., the employee shall report at 9 a.m. Administrative assistants shall receive their regular full day’s pay.”
As for custodians, any change to their regular workweek that requires a workday to be moved to a Saturday will be made only by mutual agreement. This provision prohibits the requirement of overtime on a Saturday.
Custodians will receive pay at 1½ times their regular rate if they report to work when the building is closed due to inclement weather. Administrative assistants will receive pay at 1½ times their regular rate if they work their entire scheduled shift in the building when it is closed due to inclement weather. However, decisions regarding an administrative assistant working in the building when it is closed must be made by mutual agreement between that individual and the supervisor.
Superintendent’s contract
Superintendent Elizabeth Zielinski’s contract, like that of the non-teaching personnel, is good until June 30, 2029.
The contract lays out the superintendent’s responsibilities and duties.
“The superintendent shall administer curriculum and instruction, and decide all matters having to do with selection, appointment, assignment, transfer, promotion, organization, reorganization, reduction or termination of personnel employed or to be employed by the districts consistent with state law and contract obligations,” it states.
The contract also stipulates that the superintendent controls the administration of policy, the operation and management of schools, and the direction of the employees.
The position — unlike that of teachers — requires full-time service over 12 months, excluding weekends, vacations and holidays. Attendance at night meetings and night events is a common aspect of the work.
Zielinski’s salary is $182,640 for the contract year spanning July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027. The pay then increases to $190,119 in the second contract year and $197,823 in the third.
Zielinski will be reimbursed $130 per month for a smartphone, which at all times during and after the conclusion of the employment relationship, will be her property.
The superintendent will get 25 vacation days per year, and she will be allowed to carry over up to 10 from one contract year to the next. The maximum accumulation of vacation days at any one time will be 35.
Zielinski will also be entitled to up to 20 sick days during each contract year. Sick leave can be accumulated up to 180 days. Upon retirement, there will be a “sick leave buyback” of up to 30 days at the superintendent’s then-current per diem rate. She will also receive three personal days in each contract year.
The contract also states that the School Committee can discharge the superintendent, when just cause exists, with a simple majority vote, as long as the superintendent has been informed in writing of the reason for the proposed discharge and has been given an opportunity for a hearing prior to official action being taken.
Vice Chair Patricia Smith said she feels the contract is reasonable and affordable.
“We benefit from her years of experience and her many contacts … in the Massachusetts education system,” Smith said of Zielinski.
