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Paraprofessionals push for higher pay; union and school leaders prepare to bargain over contracts
Summary
Members of the Easton Educators Association and paraprofessionals urged the School Committee to use a $100,000 town appropriation to raise paraprofessional wages. The district said negotiations will begin in January; the committee and union disagree about whether the money should be a one‑time stipend or used for recurring wage increases.
Paraprofessionals and union representatives told the Easton School Committee on Dec. 19 that current starting pay and limited benefits make it difficult to retain essential support staff, and urged immediate action on a $100,000 appropriation voters approved at town meeting to benefit paraprofessionals.
At public comment, Zachary Dyer, speaking for the Easton Educators Association, objected to the district’s earlier offer to use the $100,000 as a 1‑time stipend and called for the funds to be part of ongoing compensation. "One‑time stipends cannot responsibly address recurring needs," Dyer said. Several paraprofessionals described the gap between local starting wages and a living‑wage calculation and urged the committee to find recurring funds.
What the district said The administration told the committee it has received formal bargaining requests from the Eastern Educators Association (units A, B and…
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