Paraprofessionals Press for Living Wage as Committee Approves Memorandum of Agreement

Deb Flynn, president of the Wachusett Regional Paraprofessionals Association and a paraprofessional in the district for 25 years, told the Wachusett Regional School Committee during public comment that contract negotiations for paraprofessionals have “reached a crisis point.” Flynn said the independent union, formed after a decertification process, filed for mediation and had not received an economic offer from the district in more than four months.

"We will not give up on ourselves. We will not give up on our children. We know what we are worth," Flynn said, urging the committee to pay paraprofessionals a living wage.

Flynn described a severe staffing decline and pay gap. She said the district’s starting paraprofessional pay is $16.23 per hour while a living hourly wage for a single adult in Worcester County is $25.52. Flynn said the district formerly employed about 230 paraprofessionals and now employs roughly 70, and that many paraprofessionals hold multiple jobs to make ends meet. She added that paraprofessionals provide essential classroom support, substitute coverage and help the district comply with legal requirements for students with disabilities.

During committee business later in the meeting, the school committee voted to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Wachusett Regional School District and the Public Employee Committee (PEC) as presented. Member Lauren moved the motion and Member Linda seconded it. The motion passed on a roll-call vote; the chair announced the motion passed after members cast their votes and one member recorded an abstention.

Member Haber, asked about the status of bargaining, said the district has been responding to the union’s proposals and has made its own proposals and that mediation sessions are ongoing. "We have been participating in responding to all of their proposals, and we have made our own proposals," Haber said, and added another mediation session was scheduled.

The meeting record shows the committee approved the MOA by roll call; the chair announced the motion passed. The committee did not provide details of the economic terms of the agreement during the public session.

The paraprofessionals’ public comment and the committee vote follow a period of mediation and bargaining activity the union has described as stalled. Flynn said the WRPA believes the committee has the authority to set wages and urged immediate action.

The meeting materials and speakers noted that updates on negotiations and any further details would be reflected in future committee reports and, where appropriate, during executive-session briefings. The committee did not provide a detailed, public accounting of the MOA’s financial impact during the meeting.

The committee also heard other agenda items that were not part of the negotiations, including the superintendent’s goals and the district’s school choice decision; those items were addressed separately in the meeting.

The committee’s approval of the MOA closes the public action taken at this meeting; members and staff indicated further bargaining and mediation steps remain ongoing and will be reported later when appropriate.