NORTHAMPTON — The School Committee ratified several contracts last week, including an unusual contract extension for Superintendent John Provost.

Superintendents typically sign on for three years at a time, but the committee approved a five-year contract for Provost during its meeting last Thursday.

“The first three years went by incredibly quickly and I enjoyed every minute of them, and I”m truly looking forward to another five years in Northampton,” he said following the meeting. “I think the longevity of a superintendent in a district depends almost entirely on the strength of the relationships, and I’ve been so fortunate to be supported by a strong School Committee and a strong administrative team, and wonderful teachers and other staff over the course of the last three years.”

Provost’s salary will increase to $158,700 as of July 1 and increase incrementally each fiscal year, up to $176,900 in the final year of the contract.

The committee also approved a contract for the new director of student services, Pamela Plumer, who is being promoted from within the district after current Director Laurie Farkas retires in August. Plumer’s three-year contract comes with an annual salary of $100,000.

“Over the course of my career I’ve had the opportunity to help five individuals assume the role of director of student services, and Dr. Plumer brings by far the most expertise, knowledge and experience to the position of any of those I’ve worked with,” he said, adding she was chosen by a committee from a group of 14 applicants.

Other employees

The School Committee also ratified contracts for six collective bargaining units, representing everyone from administrative staff, to teachers and support staff. For the first time ever, said Northampton Association of School Employees President Julie Spencer-Robinson — who represents some 520 school employees — the six units bargained jointly at the same table under a new model.

“We used an interest-based bargaining approach and spent over 70 hours in negotiations,” she said following the meeting. “It’s a hard-earned victory.”

Instead of bargaining with two oppositional sides, she said the employees underwent training in order to rethink the approach based on areas of mutual interest.

“To do it all at the same time was remarkable,” she said. “We’re a model for other districts to follow.”

Since teachers already took a contract last year — the first year of their three-year contracts — she said they collectively decided to defer any pay increases to support staff.

“Teachers on the team made the decision to fight to raise the floor for our lowest paid workers,” she said. “It’s a credit to the culture of the district, for sure. We put children and learning at the center of what we do — everyone does.”

Amanda Drane can be contacted at adrane@gazettenet.com.

]]>