I believe the recent article “In protest, educators begin ‘work-to-rule,’” [Recorder, June 7], misrepresents some points. The article and Gill-Montague School Committee Chairwoman Jane Oakes claim the School Committee offered a contract with annual salary increases “comparable to many school district settlement agreements” citing the Greenfield School Department, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District, and the Frontier Regional School District. While the article explicitly cites Pioneer and Frontier district settlement agreements (3-year contracts with 6% and 6.5% cumulative increases), it omits Greenfield’s, implying a similar agreement. The Greenfield School Department recently agreed upon an 11% cumulative salary increase over 4 years. Eleven percent.

Taking into account that an employee in the Greenfield School Department makes around $3,000 more annually than a Gill-Montague Regional School District (GMRSD) employee with the same education and work experience, I do not believe it is accurate to claim the School Committee’s offered 4-year contract with 9% cumulative increases is comparable to the Greenfield School Department’s district settlement agreement. The School Committee is offering a 2% increase for this year, and 3%-2%-2% over the next 3 years. The Gill-Montague Education Association is asking for 2%-3%-3%-3% salary increases for teachers over four years, beginning in 2022-2023. This is a dispute over a 2% difference in total annual raises across four fiscal years.

One percent annual raises would cost GMRSD around $80,000 total. GMRSD’s annual school budget is over $20 million. The $200,000 recently placed in the district’s excess and deficiency fund suggests a district with surplus funds. It is disingenuous to claim that in FY ‘25 and FY ‘26 the GMRSD would not be able to cover an extra $80,000 in total salary costs for the entire district while also consistently adding to the district’s excess and deficiency fund. Why won’t the Gill-Montague Regional School Committee commit to valuing our educators long term?

Joseph Katz, GMEA member

Turners Falls