Read the latest live updates on the strike.
Andover Public Schools’ will be closed Friday after the union that represents the district’s teachers rejected the latest contract proposal from the school comittee.
The Andover School Committee presented its latest offer for a new teachers contract to the Andover Education Association on Wednesday, offering a $12,000 salary increase to all teachers over the life of the three-year contract. The two sides are also at odds over pay for instructional assistants.
“We are incredibly disappointed in this decision by the AEA to take this illegal action that unfairly disrupts the education of our students,” Andover School Committee Chair Tracey Spruce said in a statement. “The School Committee bargaining teams have negotiated in good faith to reach contracts that are fair to all educators and staff, and we urge the union bargaining team to immediately come back to the negotiating table and work with us in good faith to reach agreement.”
The union posted a statement on Facebook Thursday morning suggesting the latest offer still leaves a wide gap between the sides. By Thursday afternoon, AEA members had voted to go on strike, effectively immediately
APS teachers and instructional assistants have been working without a contract since the start of the school year. The sides began negotiating new contracts for teachers and staff in January.
Where The Sides Stand
| Andover School Committee | Andover Education Association | |
| Date of Latest Proposal | Nov. 8 | Oct. 25 |
| Salary Increase | $12,000 for all teachers and a 9.5% stipend increase. The $12,000 amounts to 25.6% raise for entry-level teachers and 11.2% for the highest-paid teachers. | 16% for all teachers over three years and a one-time $2,500 bonus |
| Entry-Level Salary At End Of Contract If Accepted | $58,870 | $54,369 |
| Top-Level Salary At End Of Contract If Accepted | $118,882 | $123,983 |
| Recess/ Teacher Planning Time | 10 minutes additional planning time | 10 minutes additional recess time for teacher planning |
| Other points | 10 days of paid leave within four months of the birth or adoption of a child. Increase from 8 to 20 consecutive days of accrued sick time that can be used following the birth or adoption of a child. | One day per week when elementary school students would be dismissed 90 minutes early for teacher prep and planning. Changes and input for curriculum selection. |
The district’s latest offer keeps APS competitive with similar school districts, School Committee Chair Spruce said in a note to the school community sent after Wednesday’s bargaining session. Andover News reviewed salaries of other Massachusetts School Districts:
| District | Effective Date | Salary Range |
| Latest APS Proposal | 2025-26 | $58,870-$118,882 |
| Latest AEA Proposal | 2025-26 | $54,369-$123,983 |
| Brookline | 2023-24 | $58,894-$125,154 |
| Lexington | 2022-23 | $51,498-$118,170 |
| Newton | 2023-24 | $56,939.52-$120,172.14 |
| Wellesley | 2021-22 | $51,975-$121,680 |
| Wayland | 2022-23 | $52,825-$127,784 |
| Weston | 2022-23 | $56,245-$118,790 |
The Andover Teachers do a great job despite the continued bashing by the School Committee. They work hard and it shows by how well the students that are interested in learning perform. Not one person on the School Committee has any idea what it takes to work and administer the three levels of schools in Andover. The Superintendent has no idea what she is doing. There have been a disproportionate number of principals who have resigned. These are long term well performing administrators.