Lexington School Committee approves tech unit contract, hears Unit C pay complaints

LEXINGTON -- February 25, 2025, Lexington School Committee approves a three-year tech unit contract while paraprofessionals demand living wages. The committee voted 5-0 Tuesday to ratify a successor agreement with the district's technology unit covering FY2025 through FY2027, with cost-of-living increases of 1.75 percent in year one and 2.75 percent in years two and three, totaling approximately $149,187 in new costs over the contract term, retroactive to July 1, 2024. Three speakers representing Unit C paraprofessionals, including LEA President Robin Strizak and negotiating team member John Goodwin, told the committee the district's standing offer of a 3 percent cost-of-living increase was "an enormous pay cut" given current inflation and that some members have needed union emergency funds to pay for gas to reach work. Director of Assessment Elena Kavanagh presented a three-part series on K-8 assessment systems, including the district's rollout of the LinkIt intervention management platform and Renaissance STAR assessments at the middle school level, with full family reporting of STAR results set for the coming weeks. Assistant Superintendent Andrew Baker outlined a science curriculum restructuring at Lexington High School that shifts college preparatory courses from five to four instructional blocks per cycle and adds a second-pass AP Biology option for seniors.