Minnechaug teacher Sheila Franklin speaks at Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee meeting on Jan. 22
Photo credit: Erin Dowding
WILBRAHAM — The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District School Committee meeting on Jan. 22 was filled with those looking to give public comment on the current negotiations between the committee and the Hampden-Wilbraham Education Association.
HWEA President and Minnechaug English teacher Damian Konkoly said that there were approximately 75 educators, a dozen students and members of the community in attendance at the meeting. Three teachers, two paraprofessionals and three students spoke during the public comment section.
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.
Stony Hill Inclusion Paraprofessional Rosemary Lee, who has 25 years of service in the district, began the public comments. Lee said that teachers are professionals and should be treated that way, without having to beg for raises.
“Pay them a competitive salary,” Lee said. “In the last two years, more responsibilities have been added on to the paraprofessionals in the district. We sub for teachers due to a shortage of substitutes, I don’t mind subbing for the teachers I work with directly under, then I can still keep an eye on the students I oversee with IEPs. However, it is very typical to catch our students up, that we provide services to, when we sub for other teachers.”
Lee said that paraprofessionals support the students and teachers by providing instruction, mentoring behavior, reinforcing lessons and help manage classrooms. She told the School Committee to do better, as it’s been over 200 days without a contract.
Minnechaug teacher Sheila Franklin spoke next and said teachers often dedicate countless unpaid hours beyond regular classroom duties. She said the commitment to fostering a rich learning environment includes giving time to various clubs and activities without pay.
“For instance, the robotics club at the middle school requires three to four hours at the year’s start, with additional hours later for coordination and paperwork,” Franklin said. “Events like the fourth grade state fair, the fifth grade science showcase and the high school Poetry Out Loud competition also demand extra time for planning and organization.”
Franklin said these commitments, which are often unnoticed, show a profound dedication that educators have towards enriching student experience and community life, underscoring the need for recognition and support for contracts that gives them the means to support their own family life.
Minnechaug senior Irene Chen said that she drove three hours from a tour at New York University to give her speech. She said she hopes that shows how deeply she cares about this issue.
“As a student, I want to emphasize on how much our teachers do for us,” Chen said. “Often, it’s far beyond what’s required of them.”
Chen named teachers Karl Labadorf, Kristen Miracle, Tom Ingram and Chenda Raffaele. She said Labadorf arrives at school as early as 6:30 a.m. to meet with students one on one. Miracle, who is the only calculus teacher in the school, stays late to help students. Chen said she is part of a student band with two of her peers and Ingram has consistently stayed after school to support them with music, even though it isn’t required. Raffaele, advisor of the Asian Culture Club, paid out of her own pockets for Lunar New Year decorations so students could feel celebrated and represented.
“There’s so much more that goes unmentioned,” Chen said. “These are actions that reflect a pattern of dedication, care and commitment that defines our teachers at both Minnechaug and all of HWRSD.”
Chen said that in the worlds of Miracle, you’ll never find another group of teachers that care so much for their students. She said that the students of Minnechaug and all of the HWRSD ask the committee to truly acknowledge what the teachers do everyday and show it where it matters most, by settling a fair contract. She said supporting the teachers is an investment in the students and the future of the community.
Green Meadows School paraprofessional Carrie McConnell said having well-funded schools and highly qualified educators will maintain home values and attract new businesses and young buyers to the area.
“We are a strong community, paying into a system that prides itself on high quality education,” McConnell said. “Unfortunately, we can’t sustain a reputation without a fair contract.”
McConnell said that without the instruction of paraprofessionals, learning is often disrupted, which can result in the district falling out of compliance with educational requirements.
“Many of us are veteran paraprofessionals,” McConnell said. “We know our students like the back of our hand. We meet our expectations daily, often going above and beyond what is expected. A fair contract will ensure student successes within our schools and validate our hard work that is poured into this district day after day after day.”
Minnechaug teacher Julia Maturo said that when she joined the district eight years ago, it was a place everybody wanted to come to. She said that it’s starting to not feel that way anymore and that she’s worried for the district’s future.
“I’ve been saving my sick days for over seven years because, at the wise advice of some of my colleagues, they said ‘no, no, no, don’t take sick days, don’t take sick days, you’re going to need to save them,’” Maturo said. “When I eventually do want to have a child, potentially within the next year or so, I understand that I’m going to have to use pretty much the entirety of my sick days to do so.”
She said that change has been coming in Western Massachusetts, regarding maternity and paternity leave, and that she’s hoping the district will recognize that if they want to attract, maintain and retain the staff they have, it’s something that needs to be considered.
Maturo said she loves working in the district but she needs to draw a line for a work-life balance, and she does not want to draw that line to the point where it becomes a detriment to her life or the success of the students.
