NORTHFIELD — The 54 members of the Pioneer Valley Association of Support Personnel (PVASP) will see what administrators say is a “record” pay increase for the union following the approval of a three-year contract.

The contract, which was approved by the Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee on Aug. 8, brings the minimum hourly wage up to $20.37 and guarantees 3% increases through each year of the agreement, which ends in 2027.

“We think we might be one of the few districts around that has a minimum hourly salary that starts with a two,” Pioneer Superintendent Patricia Kinsella said on Monday. “We are grateful to the School Committee, in particular the Collective Bargaining and Personnel Subcommittee, and the negotiating team of the PVASP for persevering and collaborating so that the district and union could reach this historic agreement.”

PVASP President Melissa Peloquin, who works as an instructional assistant at Bernardston Elementary School, said she is grateful for the School Committee and PVASP for “working diligently, with respect and integrity,” to get this agreement approved.

“We had many people from the membership work with us through the process, all with the intention of moving toward a livable wage, along with other items that needed to be reviewed,” Peloquin said. “Our commitment to this community is proven by the time spent by the PVASP during negotiations to bargain in good faith with the School Committee team and we are proud of our efforts.”

At the Aug. 8 meeting, Collective Bargaining and Personnel Subcommittee Chair Gretchen Kelton said negotiations with the union were productive.

“I just wanted to extend gratitude to everyone involved with the negotiations with the PVASP,” Kelton said. “It was collaborative and we’re grateful.”

While the minimum wage increase for all members is 9%, Kinsella said some support staff, by the end of the contract, will see an increase of up to 32% from where they were this year. Additionally, any support staff who were with the district last year will receive a $1,000 bonus at the end of September.

Director of Finance and Operations Jordan Burns said this cost-of-living increase for support staff is a “record” increase for this union.

“We have responded to the need to compensate our support staff even better, and we’re very proud of it,” Burns said.

With the agreement in place, both the PVASP and its sister union, the Pioneer Valley Regional Education Association (PVREA), have contracts in place for the upcoming fiscal years. The PVREA contract was approved in April and set minimum teacher salaries at $52,000, which is among the highest in the county.

Burns and Kinsella said these contracts represent the “ambitious” goals of the administration and School Committee, as well as their commitment to supporting communities and staff, a goal that was reaffirmed in an October 2023 meeting where the district returned $740,000 to its member towns due to higher-than-anticipated revenues.

While the pay increases may add some additional budget strain, Burns noted these plans were presented to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, as well as the district’s financial overseer.

“We’re confident that it’s a sustainable plan,” Burns said, adding that these significant pay increases send the message of, “If we manage the district very well, look at what’s possible.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.