School Committee approves contract for district’s union educators, hears parent concern on reducing allowable high school course load

School committee members approved a new contract for members of the district’s union, the Waltham Educators Association, at its meeting on Feb. 4.

Committee member Edmund Tarallo addressed multiple updates included in the 2025-2028 contract, including increases in working days, after-school meeting hours, parental leave, pay for paraprofessionals, cost of living adjustments and a half day for the last day of school for both staff and students. 

“I want to thank the Waltham Educators Association for the time they spent and how they worked with us to come to a fair contract,” Tarallo said.

Credit reduction

Additionally, the school committee heard concerns about reduced maximum allowable credits and school hours from resident and Waltham public school parent Michelle Campbell. 

Campbell told the committee she was concerned about reducing the allowable student course load from 40 to 35 credits and class hours from 8 to 7 hours. She said this would impact students’ ability to participate in individual education plans, advanced placement courses, career and technical education programs, advanced music and art coursework and early college courses while taking required classes.

“I know firsthand that three years ago 37.5 class [hours] was an extreme challenge for students to fit CTE along with any additional credit, not to mention honors or AP,” she said.

According to Campbell, even the existing 40 credit limit is difficult for many families she knows and reducing it to 35 would make it even more challenging.

She asked members about the impact on students, teachers and the existing school-day schedule.

“I respectfully ask the committee, as you consider any future proposal, to look at the full academic ecosystem and ensure that effort to solve budget, academic and scheduling challenges do not unintentionally reduce opportunity for all students,” Campbell said.

Later, members approved adding the proposed reductions discussion to the committee’s list of agenda items.

Additionally the School Committee:

• Heard Waltham High School updates about winter sports senior nights, dance theater performances, girls basketball, international women in sports night and a domestic violence warning signs presentation from student council representative and WHS senior Anabel Rutledge.

• Unanimously approved proposed updates to the district’s meal charge policy to reflect that students are no longer required to have a $0 outstanding payment balance as a graduation requirement.

• Accepted a $10,000 prize for Northeast Elementary School from the Boston Bruins Foundation’s BFit to Win It contest.