Boston City Council Unanimously Approves $33 Million BTU Contract Funding

BOSTON — May 7, 2025 — Boston City Council unanimously approves $33 million to fund new Boston Teachers Union contract on Teacher Appreciation Week. The council voted Wednesday on companion dockets 0940 and 0941, appropriating $33,262,466 from the city's collective bargaining reserve and a supplemental $33,262,460 for Boston Public Schools to cover the cost of the three-year agreement running through August 2027, sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu. Paraprofessionals receive an additional $5.50 per hour over the contract's life — a more than 25 percent increase for those at the lower end of the scale — raising the minimum para salary to $40,000. General wage increases of 2.5 percent in year one and 2 percent in each subsequent year apply to all unit members. The contract also creates a new specialized paraprofessional position and grade-level staffing triggers to support the district's full-inclusion rollout, with the FY26 budget impact projected at approximately $55.9 million.