U-46 paraeducators urge higher pay and staffing as school year nears

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 on current wages and cited recruiting difficulties: “There are currently over a 100 vacancies for paraeducators in our school district,” Pizzitola said. Several other speakers — including Jose Perez, Michelle Baldwin, Miguel Ochoa, Devin Graff and Delona Yukas — described juggling additional work, living paycheck to paycheck and, in some cases, relying on a partner’s income to make ends meet.

Why it matters: Paraeducators provide many direct services — one‑on‑one support, small‑group instruction and specialized assistance — that district presenters said are critical for students with individualized learning plans. Several speakers said losing paraeducators reduces the district’s capacity to meet federal and state requirements for special education and to sustain routine interventions that improve reading and math scores.

What speakers told the board: Jose Perez, who said he has worked as an educational support professional since 2019, described paraeducators’ role in student progress and family trust. Library paraeducators Michelle Baldwin and Michelle Bach recounted working across grade levels and witnessing measurable gains when students receive sustained adult support. Miguel Ochoa and others described the physical, emotional and financial strain of the jobs and the need for district programs such as Horizons for You, which some speakers said might help with college costs or career advancement.

Union representatives pressed the board ahead of contract negotiations. “We are a group of dedicated professionals who have chosen this career path,” Pizzitola said. “Data shows that there is a worker shortage. But in truth, there is also a wage shortage.”

District response in meeting: The board did not respond directly during public comment; the board’s rules posted with the agenda note that members listen but do not answer questions during public comment. Several board members later thanked staff for their work preparing for the school year but did not announce any immediate changes to compensation policy during the meeting.

What was not decided: No formal action on pay or a contract took place Monday. Negotiations and any formal proposals would occur outside the public‑comment period and be brought forward through the district’s bargaining process or future board agenda items.

Ending: Speakers said they came to make faces and stories visible before contract talks begin. “Everyone here has a story,” Devin Graff told the board. “Think about people who have $20 left in their checking accounts.”