Without a contract for 300 days, Holyoke educators continue push for new deal

Holyoke Paraprofessionals Association President Elizabeth Montagna spoke during public comment two months ago about the wants and needs in the HPA’s next contract.
Reminder Publishing file photo

HOLYOKE — Holyoke educators are continuing to push for a new contract that includes competitive salaries, improved leave policies, and a school calendar aligned with neighboring districts as negotiations with the city continue.

The Holyoke Teachers Association and Holyoke Paraprofessional Association members hosted a community forum on April 27, followed by a press conference, to address stalled progress with the School Committee and district.

The HTA contract expired on June 30, 2025, and negotiations have been ongoing since February 2025. Teachers have worked nearly 300 days without a new agreement, operating under the previous contract, a situation HTA President Nick Cream said has created stress and tension. The talks also mark the first negotiations since the district exited state receivership.

Key concerns raised include safety, compensation, licensure requirements tied to pay, limited preparation time, staffing shortages and leave policies. Cream said the union has compromised on several issues, but they are still seeking 14 sick days, three weeks of family leave and removal of licensure from the pay scale.

Cream stated, “Despite what Mayor [Joshua] Garcia, Assistant Superintendent Jackie Glasheen and the Holyoke School Committee want you to think, this is not actually about dollars and cents. Our proposals will bring stability to Holyoke and make us competitive with surrounding districts. Places like Chicopee, Springfield, [and] West Springfield, where great teachers go after working in Holyoke for a few years.”

The HPA, whose contract expires in June, has also begun negotiating. Vice President Veronica Santana emphasized paraprofessionals’ roles and the need for better wages and working conditions.

“Paraprofessionals are the backbone of the public school system. We’re more than classroom helpers; we’re essential support staff for both teachers and students who need extra support to thrive. We are at the times the individuals teaching in place of when teachers are in limited supply. Many of our members work second jobs to make ends meet,” Santana said. “We are seeking a living wage.”

The HPA is scheduled to meet with the district on April 30. HPA’s proposals to the district included feedback from every paraprofessional in the district. The proposals are focused on professional compensation, health and safety, fair and humane leave policies, and respect, according to Santana.

Ahead of the forum, Garcia urged both sides to remain in mediation, which began March 12, and cautioned against a potential strike. The next mediation session is set for May 6.

Garcia stated that he thinks the two sides can come to an agreement if they remain in the mediation process.

He added that the district’s negotiating team and the School Committee’s most recent proposal includes reducing the work year from 188 to 186 days, along with reductions in total work hours at all levels of teaching in comparison with previous contracts. It also maintains weekly prep periods, while creating a space for collaboration that reinforces teaching and ultimately benefits the students, according to Garcia.

The proposal also presents a potential investment of $8.6 million over three years. On average, teachers would get an estimated 20% increase during the duration of the contract, including an increase of 8.9% in the first year alone, followed by additional increases in the second and third years.

“This adds to the 19.6% increase received in the previous contract over three years. Older educators would get even bigger benefits from old-age payments. This proposal is unprecedented, and it does so responsibly, avoiding unsustainable costs that could lead to layoffs, larger classes or cuts in the programs our students depend on,” Garcia explained.

Cream said the numbers in the proposal are “pretty close,” but one of the major holdups is the district’s stance on licensure and pay steps.

“I don’t know of any other districts in this state that do this,” Cream said. “They’re basically using Holyoke, like we said, as an experiment ground, a place to say, ‘let’s try this out and see how it works.’ We want that to be fixed. Paying people differently based on doing the same exact work in a classroom next to somebody is not going to fix that; it’s actually maybe going to make it worse.”

Despite speculation, Cream said neither union has discussed a strike and does not know where the rumor came from.

In a statement on social media the day after HTA’s press conference, Garcia said he felt good about the strong proposal that is now in front of the HTA. He added that he was relieved to find that a strike would not happen and encouraged the HTA to advance the School Committee’s most recent proposal forward.

“I am relieved to hear from HTA union leadership that they are not planning to strike,” Garcia said the day after the conference. “I am especially glad to see that we are in agreement that a strike would hurt our students and their families. It is good that all parties agree on this. Our students, families, and educators deserve stability, not disruption, as we work together to strengthen our schools.