Woburn Teachers Ratify, Staff Ratify Contracts To Strike

WOBURN, MA — Classes resumed Monday morning across Woburn Public Schools following a week-long teacher strike.

Woburn teachers, paraprofessionals and school nurses all agreed to new contracts with the district as of 9 p.m. Sunday, according to the Woburn Teachers Association.

"The agreement provides educators with a fair contract that also aligns with the best interests of the district and residents of Woburn. Most importantly Woburn Public Schools will be able to resume providing a high-quality education to our 4,200 students," the Woburn School Committee and Mayor Scott Galvin said in a news release Sunday night.

The new contracts raise pay for paraprofessionals — also known as education support professionals — and lowers class sizes for 4th and 5th grade teachers, the WTA said. The new deal was hammered out in a negotiating session that started late Friday and ended early Saturday morning.

The teachers will not be penalized for the district for going on strike, but the WTA will pay $225,000 to the city toward an estimated $270,000 lost during the strike, which began Jan. 30.

"The encouragement we heard from parents and other community members kept us strong and affirmed that we were doing the right thing. Their respect for us — and their willingness to entrust their children’s future with us — make us proud to teach in this city," the WTA said in a news release. "In addition, we are deeply appreciative of the support we received from the Woburn parents and businesses who donated food to our members and negotiation team on the picket lines across the schools."