Paraeducators, CSEA urge Santa Clara Unified to fix pay inequity for elementary mod-to-severe aides

Members of the California School Employees Association (CSEA) and paraeducators pressed the Santa Clara Unified Board of Trustees on Sept. 11 to correct what they described as a long-standing pay inequity for elementary paraeducators who support students with moderate-to-severe needs.

The issue surfaced repeatedly during public comment and in a formal statement from CSEA’s labor-relations representative Robin James Utegard, who told trustees that elementary paraeducators perform the same duties as life-skills paraeducators at the secondary level but are paid less. "Special education paraeducators supporting the students in the mod to severe elementary school of the district deserve to be compensated equally for the work they are already performing," Utegard said. He asked the board to direct Human Resources to negotiate immediately rather than wait for contract negotiations.

Why it matters: Support staff working with students who have intensive needs provide daily, hands-on care and instruction that classroom teachers and families say is essential to students’ ability to learn and participate in school. CSEA and paraeducators told the board that the pay disparity is driving turnover and undermines continuity of care for these students.

What paraeducators and union leaders said: Denise Moreno, a paraeducator in a moderate-to-severe kindergarten class at Hughes Elementary for nearly six years, described the elementary paras’ work as foundational: “The foundation of this bridge was formed by elementary paraeducators who taught an immeasurable number of life skills … Many of the current board members have been in our classrooms and I can attest to these efforts.” Nick Andino, a teacher at Hayman Elementary, said the district sees high turnover in classrooms because paraeducators can take identical jobs with higher pay elsewhere.

CSEA asked for immediate bargaining and said the district has told the union to take the issue to general contract negotiations, which CSEA said would delay a timely fix. "Waiting for contract negotiations delays a fair, timely resolution," Utegard said.

Board response and next steps: Trustees heard multiple speakers on the topic and expressed support for addressing the concern. CSEA said it had already requested a meeting; board members encouraged further talks with Human Resources and the superintendent. No formal policy change or vote on reclassification was taken at the Sept. 11 meeting; trustees approved an agenda item later in the meeting to create a district-level special education committee (see separate article), which parents said would provide additional avenues for local feedback and oversight.

Background details: CSEA representatives said the district’s reclassification process previously denied a reclassification request from affected paraeducators. Union leaders also said the district asked employees to address the error through a reclassification process instead of correcting pay placement centrally.

What advocates want: CSEA and paraeducators urged the board to direct Human Resources to negotiate a remedy that recognizes elementary mod-to-severe paraeducators as performing life-skills work and to adjust pay accordingly to reduce turnover and maintain classroom consistency.

Ending: Trustees did not vote on pay or reclassification at the meeting; several trustees asked staff to pursue follow-up, and union representatives said they would return to the board if necessary.