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Paraprofessionals urge higher pay and say turnover is harming special education supports
Summary
A paraprofessional spoke during public comments asking Lamar CISD to raise special‑education paraprofessional pay, citing retention problems, unpaid extra duties and difficulty affording housing on current wages.
During the public comment portion of the Feb. 18 meeting, paraprofessional Deborah Blankenship addressed the board about paraprofessional pay, focusing on special education assignments.
Blankenship said paraprofessionals provide individualized instruction, behavioral support and personal care in classrooms serving students with disabilities but that current wages do not support retention. She described long hours, frequent responsibility for full classes when teachers are absent, understaffed substitute coverage and the financial strain on paraprofessionals—saying her own hourly pay is $16.97 and that she does not carry district medical insurance. Blankenship asked the board to review pay scales and implement higher wages for paraprofessionals to improve recruitment and retention and to better support student needs.
The board did not take immediate action during the meeting but received the comment as part of public participation.
Why it matters: paraprofessionals deliver daily, frontline support in special education classrooms. Pay and staffing levels affect classroom safety, continuity of services and retention of experienced support staff.
