Paraprofessionals Ask for Fair Contract and Wage Increase

By Adam Swift

The school system’s paraprofessionals and their supporters advocated for a new contract and increased wages during the public speaking portion of last week’s School Committee meeting.

Supporters of the paraprofessionals, officially known as education support professionals (ESPs), unrolled a lengthy petition of those advocating for higher wages for the school employees.

“I’m a 10-year ESP, and before that, I was a substitute teacher,” said Andrea DeBattista. “There are only three things I want you to know, so I will be really quick and I am probably speaking for most of the other ESPs. I am very loyal to Winthrop public schools; I love Winthrop public schools, but it is getting harder and harder to stay here simply because we can’t afford our bills.”

In addition, DeBattista said ESPs work with all students, not just those with special needs, in the schools.

“We have been known to come in early and stay late, organizing binders, anything we can do just to help all kids and we put our hearts and souls into it,” she said. 

In order to make ends meet, DeBattista said she has to work several other jobs, a sentiment echoed by several other paraprofessionals who addressed the School Committee.

“I have worked in the system for 25 years, and I have dedicated those years to nurturing and helping to mold and teach your children,” said LeeAnn Simpson. “It is a privilege working with these children every day, but the money that I have sacrificed working for the school system no longer suffices due to inflation and the cost of living.”

After 25 years of working for the schools, Simpson said her annual pay is still under $25,000.

“This is insulting compared to what (ESPs) in other cities and towns in the area are now earning,” she said. “The other paraprofessionals and I are not asking for anything more than a fair living wage that will take us above the poverty level that we are working under now.”

Without the efforts of paraprofessionals in the classrooms, Simpson said the special education plans of students would not be met and teachers would not be able to run productive classrooms.

“I’m asking that you do the right thing by your paraprofessionals and give us a fair living wage,” Simpson said. “If administrators and teachers get opportunities to remain competitive in their field, why should our ESPs stay below the poverty line while our neighbors are above it?”

Several educators sent communications in support of the paraprofessionals.

“I’ve seen how vital ESPs are to our schools, however, they are not being compensated as such,” stated Winthrop Middle School history teacher Dr. Christopher Beckvold. “There is no task they will not undertake or child they will not help. It is incomprehensible to me why a School Committee would not assent to the terms for which they are asking; at the very least, our ESPs deserve a fair wage.”

Winthrop Teachers Association (WTA) President Kristen Reynolds also voiced her support for new contracts with higher wages for the ESPs, as well as nurses and school secretaries.

“I’m here to support all of our ESPs, our nurses, and our secretaries who work so hard and tirelessly all day to support our students,” said Reynolds. 

On behalf of her school and the WTA, Reynolds asked that the School Committee settle with the three bargaining units with fair contracts.