LEWISTON — The School Committee voted this week to give educators and technology staff bonuses as proposed by the negotiations committee.
Teachers will receive a one-time payment of $600. Education technicians and technology staff will receive $300.
Committee members acknowledged Wednesday night that the amount is not commensurate with how difficult the year has been for educators.
“Our educators have gone above and beyond, worked harder than any other year in their educational careers,” member Kiernan Majerus-Collins said. “This (payment) is a small and frankly insufficient recognition of that work, but it is significant because it is something.”
Member Ron Potvin said he visited schools and HAD seen the level of dedication.
“No one stops,” he said. “I asked about taking a break and they said, ‘There are no breaks.’ We basically have asked staff to do three items in one. I think it’s at least appropriate to recognize that.”
Teachers have been juggling in-person and remote instruction because social distancing guidelines during the pandemic do not allow all students to attend school at the same time.
Many teachers say they work 12-hour days and parts of every weekend to keep up with lesson preparation.
Superintendent Jake Langlais said the approval of the agreement “puts us back in a good position.”
He added that he had heard from some teachers who don’t want the money. “There are mixed reactions out there about this kind of action.”
The committee late Monday night voted 4-3 to accept the agreement, but five votes were needed for it to pass, according to the City Charter.
Members voting yes were Majerus-Collins, Tanya Whitlow, Lynnea Hawkins and City Council representative Alicia Rea. ‘No’ votes were cast by Potvin, committee Chairwoman Megan Parks and Vice Chairman Bruce Damon. Member Paul Beauparlant abstained and member Elgin Physic was absent.
Potvin said Wednesday that he voted against it because he wanted more information about how the payments would affect the budget.
“I had concerns about the finances and I certainly had concerns about finding out about something before I had the information,” he said.
He added, “I really wasn’t crazy about having to vote at 11 o’clock at night without the public being able to comment.”
The committee voted Wednesday to rescind its initial vote on the agreement and to vote again. The second time it passed unanimously.
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