March 28, 2024

Seekonk Teachers Union Rejects Plan to Cut Coach Salaries

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The Seekonk Educators Association (SEA) voted Friday to reject a plan proposed by the School Committee to cut the 2020 Spring Season Coaches Salaries by 75 percent. Seekonk Coaches, whose salaries are covered in the SEA contract with the town, have been working with their teams and athletes all along in accordance with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) guidelines.

“We do not believe it is fair to cut our dedicated coaches’ salaries at the last minute and after the work has been done. The season is almost over. If they really needed to do these steep cuts, the school committee should have proposed it back in March when the season was just starting,” said SEA President Sharon Ahern.


Ahern noted the future of the school year and the spring athletic season were in limbo for six weeks following the closure of schools in mid-March due to COVID-19. She also stated that the MIAA did not officially cancel the 2020 Spring season until April 24th.


“The school committee continues to support the SEA,” said chairperson Kim Sluter. “We are in agreement on the value of the relationship between a coach and student athlete and we are equally disappointed that the Spring 2020 sports season halted without a practice or game.”


“In good faith (we) offered the spring 2020 coaches 25% of their anticipated spring 2020 coaching stipends,” Sluter continued. “The economic impact of COVID-19 is going to reach far beyond this spring and the school committee seeks to work collaboratively with the SEA to make the best possible decisions for our public school system.”


The issue will be addressed at Monday’s school committee meeting.


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