WILBRAHAM — Educators in the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District spoke out for a resolution in the contract negotiations between the Hampden Wilbraham Education Association and the School Committee in its meeting on Dec. 18. The HWEA represents more than 375 teachers, paraprofessionals and service providers across the district.
Negotiations began in November 2024 and since contracts expired in June 2025, state mediation has been filed to bring a resolution. The two groups have reached an impasse, stuck on certain topics like pay raises for paraprofessionals and teachers, and paid family leave as a benefit for educators when there is a birth or adoption of a child.
The HWEA held a stand-out demonstration at Crane Park on Dec. 12 to bring awareness to the public about the ongoing challenges educators are facing under expired contracts.
Mile Tree teacher Franchesca Dubois is an expectant mother and behind tears, spoke about the impact and financial obstacles the lack of maternity leave will bring to her growing family. She said the beginning years of childhood are important for a child’s development and the beginning year of her sons’ life may be “forced into the hands of someone that is not his mother.”
“My husband and I have discussed for me to return to work as early as four weeks postpartum,” Dubois said. “As a newer teacher in the district, I have only accumulated 26 sick days.”
Dubois added that before her son is even born, the majority of those sick days will be used for appointments and then time with her newborn, leaving her without an income when the accumulated days run out.
“What are my options, a second job? Leaving teaching entirely for a job that can provide basic support for my growing family,” Dubois said. “My husband will carry our young and growing family in a new world that so desperately requires two strong incomes.”
Dubois told the committee that sharing her families’ struggle takes a lot of bravery, but she does it because she isn’t the only young parent it will affect.
“Please look at the age graphics of our district,” Dubois said. “Many more may soon be in this position. I encourage you all to follow suit with other surrounding districts and careers to adapt paid family leave for my son and my family and the rest to come.”
Stony Hill teacher Maureen Russell spoke about the demanding expectations that teachers and students are currently under with the curriculums, which she said are not sustainable. Russell said the new curriculums are rigorous and engaging and due to the fast pacing, there’s no time to go through content that students didn’t process and internalize, leading to the teacher taking extra time delivering intervention meetings with the student.
“We now have four curricula to plan for, implement and grade at the elementary level, five if you count second steps,” Russell said. “It just keeps adding on. In order to plant a seed, you have to pull a weed. In other words, every time a new task is added on, something should be taken off our plate, but it’s not.”
Russell emphasized the amount of work the teachers are exposed to by asking the School Committee to consider a few numbers. She said the 24 students in their classrooms is too high, three is the average number of extra hours worked per day and 74 is the amount of school days so far.
“That adds up to 222 extra hours of work, or approximately 32 additional work days,” Russell said. “One hundred and seventy, the number of days we’ve gone without a contract, and 12 is the number of meetings the HWEA negotiating team has had with the School Committee with no outcome. As a teacher and a resident, I find this shameful.”
Russell also said she would be remiss if she didn’t mention paraeducators, who step up on a moment’s notice and are always there for teachers and students. She said teachers could not do it without them and they need fair wages too.
“We love our students and we want to work hard so that they get the best education possible, but educators are losing time with our own families and risking our own health,” Russell said. “We ask that you give us the same respect that we give our students. Pay us what we have earned and deserved.”
Jessica Paris, a 26-year teacher at Stony Hill, said she is asking for a fair contract because she “cares about the sustainability of schools and the ability to dedicate educators to continue serving students with the time, energy and commitment they deserve.”
“Our schools are filled with hardworking caring professionals who give everything they have to ensure students feel safe, supported and capable of success,” Paris said. “Teachers in our district are carrying more responsibilities than ever before.”
Paris said that asking for fair contracts wasn’t about asking for more, but about “recognizing realities of the job” and “ensuring teachers can continue providing the high quality education the community expects and deserves.”
“The decisions you made in this negotiation will shape not only the quality of our schools but also the future of every child that walks into our classrooms,” Paris said. “It is a message to families that our district is committed to assets. It is a message to teachers that their dedication is not invisible. It is a message to students that the adults they rely on are worthy of respect, stability and support. They deserve to see that their community values the people who show up for them day after day and year after year.”
