The School Committee and members of a newly formed union for paraprofessionals agreed to a first contract that both sides called beneficial. A key issue for the general teaching and special education teaching assistants, library assistants, and math tutors was job security, according to Michael Foster, the regional representative for the Service Employees International Union, which includes the paraprofessionals. Foster said in the uncertain economy, the employees were worried about how decisions on job reductions would be made, should they be necessary. “Now we have a seat at the table and can have a direct impact on how the cuts may occur,” he said. The approximately 80 employees decided to form a union in October 2010 and began collective bargaining with the town about a year ago, according to Foster. He said the new contract is in line with other first contracts in the area. It covers the workers through 2015 and provides for two 1 percent cost-of-living wage increases, according to an announcement by the school district. School Committee member Rebecca Robak, a member of the negotiating team quoted in the statement, called the paraprofessionals an “integral part of the education process,” and added, “We look forward to continuing the positive relationship we have established with the union through the negotiation process.”