Saint Francis parents, teachers and aides press board for higher pay and better support for educational assistants

At the Sept. 22 Saint Francis Area Schools board meeting, a series of public commenters urged the board to increase pay and support for educational assistants, saying low wages are driving turnover and threatening services for students with disabilities.

Speakers described work that includes behavior management, toileting and transfers, supervision at recess and lunches, one‑to‑one academic support and acting as first responders during health incidents. “The EAs in our district are worth more than gold,” said Miranda Jensen, a special‑education teacher, who described aides being kicked, bitten, spit on and forced to make split‑second safety decisions. “We are paying them less than you can make working at a fast‑food restaurant.”

The appeals came during the public comment portion of the meeting and did not prompt a board motion. Multiple speakers asked the board to revisit recent wage offers and negotiations. “It is time for salaries to reflect it,” said Christie Melo, a 25‑year teacher and parent. Tanya Helena, who identified herself as an educational assistant, said she struggles to live on her EA salary and asked the board to “look at us like we are real professionals.”

Parents and family members described the consequences for students if aides leave. “My granddaughter is normal and excelling because of these EAs,” said Elizabeth Geist, a grandparent, who warned that higher pay elsewhere would increase turnover in Saint Francis. A parent who identified herself as Ashley said neighboring districts start EAs at higher hourly rates, and argued that Saint Francis risks losing aides to better‑paying districts.

Several teachers testified that EAs enable inclusion and keep classrooms functioning. “Educational assistants are the backbone of inclusive education,” said Ashley Christiansen, a teacher with nine years in the district. She described aides being frequently reassigned to cover other rooms, disrupting continuity of care and Individualized Education Program (IEP) supports.

Speakers also asked the board to spend time in classrooms: “We’d like you to put on your tennis shoes and come for the days in our shoes,” one commenter said, urging board members to observe full workdays rather than short visits.

District staff and the board did not take immediate action on the requests during the meeting. Several board members acknowledged hearing the concerns and noted negotiations and compensation matters are ongoing. The board’s public materials list labor negotiations updates on the district website; speakers suggested the board use that and other channels to share clearer timelines and proposals.

Ending: The public comment period included 17 speakers on multiple topics. The EA appeals dominated the evening’s testimony but did not result in a formal board decision; the board will consider compensation and bargaining matters in future sessions and through ongoing negotiations.