Schools

Natick Schools, Education Association Reach 3-Year Contract Agreement

The agreement will be worked into a collective bargaining agreement for the 2026-2029 school years that will be finalized soon.

NATICK, MA — The Natick Public Schools and Education Association of Natick (EAN) have reached a new, three-year contract, officials announced.

The tentative agreement "prioritizes student learning, competitive compensation aligned with educators’ expertise, the district's commitment to financial responsibility and the long-term success of the district," officials said.

On Monday, the School Committee voted unanimously to approve the EAN Units A and B contract as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding between the School Committee and the EAN.

Find out what's happening in Natickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The negotiating process began in early September 2024.

"This contract represents a true joint effort. It demonstrates our support for our hard-working Natick educators. At the same time, consideration was given to the district’s current financial landscape," said Dr. Shai Fuxman, Chair of the Natick School Committee.

Find out what's happening in Natickfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The new contract establishes working groups focused on revamping the educator evaluation system, with a renewed focus on supporting professional growth and improving instructional practices.

Additionally, the agreement lays the foundation for access to professional learning opportunities that equip educators with "strategies to effectively use student data to enhance instruction and learning outcomes," officials said.

Kristen McEnaney and Jefferson Wood, Co-Presidents of the EAN, said that they were proud to have come to an agreement that recognizes the dedication of their members.

"Coming to this agreement is a step forward for our educators and the school community as a whole. We heard from our members that they appreciated having a voice in the district’s future. The EAN deeply appreciates the ongoing open dialogue with the School Committee and district leaders," they said.

The memorandum of understanding will be incorporated into a collective bargaining agreement for the 2026-2029 school years and is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks.

There are just over 600 professional educators and staff within the Natick Education Association Units A and B.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.