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Chicopee educators, paraprofessionals and parents urge School Committee to approve livable wages
Summary
Multiple teachers, paraprofessionals (ESPs) and parents told the School Committee that current raises are insufficient, described selling plasma and other financial strains, and asked the committee to approve a budget that would provide higher pay and workplace protections.
Dozens of teachers, paraprofessionals known as ESPs, parents and union representatives told the Chicopee School Committee on Monday that proposed raises fall short of a livable wage and urged the panel to approve funding to keep staff in the district.
During the public input period, speakers described financial hardship among education staff, said modest percentage raises amount to only a few dollars per paycheck, and warned of continuing staff attrition if pay does not improve.
Why it matters: Several speakers said low pay threatens retention of experienced staff and the district's ability to recruit new teachers and support personnel. Commenters asked the committee to approve…
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