Chicopee educators, paraprofessionals and parents urge School Committee to approve livable wages

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 previously discussed budget measures and to provide explicit workplace protections for staff injured on the job.

Voices from the meeting included classroom teachers, ESPs and union representatives. Doria Acevedo, who said she has worked in the district for nearly five years, told the committee: “We need a livable wage.” Linda Manno, an ESP who said she is completing her ninth year in the district, gave a concrete example of the limits of the proposed raises: “At a 3% raise for the 25 26 year, that would only increase my salary by $41.07 per paycheck. This barely covers the increased cost of my car and health insurance.”

Others described how staff supplement income. Acevedo said several ESPs had been selling plasma twice a week to make ends meet; she urged the committee to do “better.” Christine Avery, an ESP, said districtwide practices vary by building and that ESPs have broad instructional responsibilities: “ESPs are essential to the learning environment of the classroom. Gone are the days of making copies and coloring with students.”

Dylan Pitrick, who identified himself as the partner of a district educator, said the committee's treatment of staff has been “disheartening” and urged the members to act “to protect and pay your staff in the way they deserve.” Ben Eisen, a high-school science teacher who spoke for the Chicopee Education Association, thanked committee members who voted in favor of a budget he said would invest in Chicopee schools and urged continued support for staff pay and working conditions.

No formal committee action on pay was recorded during the meeting. Several speakers referenced the possibility of “pink slips” and layoffs; committee members acknowledged receipt of public comment and thanked teachers, but did not take a vote on additional raises at the session.

Next steps: Public speakers asked the School Committee to approve the settled budget and to adopt clearer districtwide policies and protections for ESPs and other staff. The committee did not announce a new timeline for further action during the meeting.