AMHERST — A tentative agreement on a new contract for teachers, paraprofessionals and clerical staff that calls for annual 3% cost-of-living adjustments has been reached, according to representatives from the Regional School Committee’s negotiating subcommittee.

Families were notified by the committee late Wednesday night, following the latest in-person mediation session, that a deal is ready, subject to approval from the Amherst Pelham Education Association.

“We are pleased to report that after nearly 18 months of bargaining, we have reached a tentative agreement with the APEA, pending ratification,” wrote Amherst representative Allison McDonald and Pelham representative Sarahbess Kenney, who noted in their correspondence that they are “exhausted but glad for this outcome.”

The communication provides detailed salary and wage grids for those in the union, including teachers. While the bottom step is lower than Northampton, South Hadley, Hadley and Belchertown, the top steps in fiscal year 2023, which began July 1, 2022, are higher than peer communities. The salaries begin, at the lowest, at $45,582 for teachers with bachelor’s degrees, $48,831 for those with master’s degrees, $52,077 for master’s degrees plus 30 and $55,326 for those with doctorates. At the top of this scale, the salaries are $76,001, $81,811 $87,624 and $93,341, respectively.

In addition to the 9% cost-of-living adjustments being offered over the three years of the contract, the School Committee proposal also includes a salary schedule with annual seniority increases of about 3.5% to 4%, making those teachers with the most years of experience the highest paid teachers in the region.

Paraeducators start at $18.33 per hour this fiscal year, move to $19,63 per hour in fiscal year 2024 and $20.22 in fiscal year 2025.

McDonald said the elements of the proposal are similar to what was being called the “last best offer” by the committee. It includes creation of a new merit award for paraeducators in Unit C that is based on a similar award currently given annually to clerical staff in Unit B; and an update to parental leave for all three units that expands the amount of accrued time off that may be used by some staff.

Last month, bargaining units for the union decided against ratifying contracts proposed by the School Committee. A key sticking point had been whether paraeducators can be paid $20.50 per hour. Union employees have been working to rule since February, meaning they halted doing any unpaid tasks in or out of school, such as overseeing extracurricular activities for students and developing new courses.

McDonald said a few additional aspects were added to the contract and tentatively agreed to, though these have little economic impact.

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