Brockton paraprofessionals tell school committee proposed 2% raise won’t cover rising costs

Several Brockton paraprofessionals told the Brockton School Committee on Sept. 3 that the district’s proposed 2% raise and rising insurance costs will leave many of them bringing home less pay this year and are pushing employees toward mediation. "Our essential paraprofessionals would much rather have settled a contract before the school year started," Stacy McDonald, president of VESPA, said during the hearing of visitors. "The 2% raise that you've offered will not keep pace with that cost. Every single one of our members will bring home less money this year than they did last year." Other speakers described long hours, multiple jobs and repeated workplace injuries. "How many of you can afford to take vacations with your families? This is not respect," Tracy Fernandez said, describing concussions and assaults at work. Marie Pierre Alcantara Gomez, who said she has worked at Davis School for more than 25 years, described filling in for multiple teachers to earn extra pay. Alexis Corin Hall, a paraprofessional at South Middle School, said she turned down other work to stay in Brockton and still depends on services such as Self Help for bills. The speakers asked the committee to return to negotiations with a larger financial offer. "We believe that Brockton can do better," McDonald said. "You say you respect us. You say that you value us, but we can't believe that because that's not how you treat us." The remarks were made during the public comment portion of the Sept. 3 meeting. No formal contract vote occurred during the meeting; speakers said the union had moved to mediation because talks had not produced a contract before the school year began. The committee’s chair thanked the speakers and said the committee sees and hears their concerns. The statements in this article come from public comments recorded on the Sept. 3 Brockton School Committee transcript.