Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
U-46 paraeducators urge higher pay and staffing as school year nears
Summary
More than a dozen paraeducators and support staff told the School District U‑46 Board of Education that low wages force many to hold second jobs, and they urged the district to raise pay during upcoming contract negotiations to fill more than 100 vacancies.
A group of more than a dozen current and former School District U‑46 paraeducators and educational support professionals used the board’s public‑comment period Monday to press the district to raise hourly wages and address vacancies that speakers said leave students without consistent support.
Speakers said low pay pushes many paraeducators to take second jobs, hampers recruitment and retention, and affects the classroom supports students receive. “One job should honestly be enough,” Tina Pizzitola, president of District U‑46 Educational Assistance (DUIA), told the board. “We are asking the district and this board to make the decision to support our students by supporting us.”
The comments came during the board’s August 4 meeting as the district readied schools to reopen next week. Workers said they value the work but cannot live…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
