Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Staff Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Classified employees and dyslexia interventionists press PCSSD board for pay parity and role recognition
Summary
Multiple classified staff and certified dyslexia interventionists spoke at the April 8 board meeting, urging the Pulaski County Special School District to extend pay increases and reclassify intervention roles so salaries reflect the specialized work these staff provide.
Classified staff and certified dyslexia interventionists urged the Pulaski County Special School District board April 8 to adopt pay increases and job reclassifications they said are necessary to retain specialists who deliver direct, research-backed reading interventions.
Speakers described the daily responsibilities of interventionists and the effect small salary differences have on retention. Several interventionists said the district’s recent raises for some classified roles did not include dyslexia interventionists — staff who perform assessments, run small-group, multisensory reading instruction and document student progress.
“My students are taught using explicit, systematic, sequential, cumulative direct instruction using a multisensory approach,” said Melanie Leffler, who identified herself as a dyslexia interventionist at Watson High School. “We provide individualized small-group instruction and daily documentation. We deserve an adjustment that reflects our contribution.”
Other speakers described health and financial hardships that make predictable pay important. Gabby Mendiola (transcript name Mendiola) told the board she developed a chronic medical condition and said she needs steady compensation to continue working as an interventionist; Shauna Hall and Jeri Lynn Taylor described increased caseloads and schedule disruptions that add duties beyond their job titles.
Speakers requested two specific changes cited during the meeting: parity of salary ranges with paraprofessionals (interventionists currently reported at range 8 while paraprofessionals moved to range 9) and a planned move to range 10 by the following August. Speakers also asked for clear communication from central office about timelines for any action.
The board did not take a separate vote specifically on interventionist pay at the April 8 meeting; several speakers asked that the board remove a classified freeze or reclassification agenda item from consent to consider it separately.
Provenance: Dyslexia interventionist testimony began around 4129.105 (Melanie Leffler) and continued with multiple staff comments through 5356.23 (Shauna Hall).
