In a recent North Andover government meeting, discussions centered on the compensation structure for teaching assistants (TAs) working with preschool students at the ABAC. The meeting highlighted concerns regarding the calculation of salaries and benefits, particularly the treatment of paid holidays for part-time employees classified as 0.9 and 0.8 full-time equivalents.

The TAs, who are considered full-time employees under their contract, work varying hours—26 for 0.8 and 29 for 0.9 positions—aligned with student attendance. They receive standard benefits, including 15 sick days, three personal days, and 12 paid holidays. However, discrepancies arose in how their salaries were calculated, particularly regarding the inclusion of paid holidays.

A key point of contention was whether the 12 paid holidays should be prorated based on their part-time status. The administration argued that the holidays were included in the salary scale and thus should be prorated, while TAs contended that they should receive the full benefit of the holidays as full-time employees. This disagreement led to a grievance process, with the administration asserting that no violation of the collective bargaining agreement occurred.

The meeting revealed that the current calculation method resulted in TAs being underpaid by approximately $263.64 annually due to the prorating of holiday pay. The TAs emphasized that their contract language was intentionally crafted to ensure they were recognized as full-time employees, deserving of full benefits without prorating.

As discussions continued, it became clear that the issue of holiday pay was just one aspect of a broader concern regarding the overall compensation structure for TAs. The meeting concluded with a call for further review of the contract language and compensation calculations to ensure fair treatment of all teaching assistants in the district.