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ESP union praises staffing changes, urges more academic support for social studies
Summary
The district’s Education Support Professionals union thanked administrators for recent staffing improvements and urged the board to add ESP‑led academic support for social studies and to reallocate tutoring positions into departmental professional roles; the board approved the annual ESP staffing report.
Jennifer Shepherd, president of the District 128 Education Support Professionals (ESP) union, told the board April 28 that members appreciate recent staffing process improvements and collaboration with district administration, but urged additional actions to support student success in social studies.
Shepherd said the union recommends adding ESP support for tier‑1 classroom assistance and drop‑in tutoring in government and U.S. history, citing recent course failure counts: "Over the past five semesters, 32 students have earned a DRF in government. 84 students have earned a DRF in US history," she told the board. The union argued adding ESP coverage in social studies and reallocating some tutor positions as departmental professional positions would strengthen tier‑1 supports.
The board voted to approve the annual ESP staffing report after a motion by Don Carmichael and a second by Sonal Kulkarni; a roll call recorded all members present voting yes. The district and union said they will continue labor‑management discussions about staffing allocations and MTSS implementation.
The union also announced an incoming executive board and named members who will serve in leadership roles beginning May 1.
