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Paraprofessionals urge use of $100,000 town appropriation for wages as bargaining begins
Summary
Paraprofessionals and the Easton Educators Association told the school committee Dec. 19 that a $100,000 town appropriation should be applied to recurring paraprofessional pay increases, rejecting the committee's one-time stipend proposal. The committee said negotiations will proceed and funds remain in its budget line.
Public commenters and paraprofessional employees addressed the school committee during the Dec. 19 meeting, urging the committee to use a $100,000 town appropriation to increase paraprofessional wages rather than provide a one-time stipend.
Zachary Dyer, speaking for the Easton Educators Association, said the union "reject[s] this plan because the problems we have now will not disappear next year" and argued one-time payments cannot address recurring needs. "We are out of time and out of patience with an administration that constantly promises that raises just around the corner," Dyer said.
Several paraprofessionals described local labor-market comparisons and personal hardship. Lois Agopian, a paraprofessional at Oliver Ames, cited local fast-food and retail starting wages as context and asked, "Does the starting pay of $18.85 with limited benefits make any sense?" Another paraprofessional described working multiple assignments, substitute shifts without additional compensation, and the impossibility of covering basic living costs on current pay.
The chair explained the $100,000 appropriation came from one-time town free cash and that the committee proposed using it for one-time stipends; the Easton Educators Association declined that approach and requested opening bargaining. The committee acknowledged the EEA's request and said bargaining for Unit A (teachers), paraprofessionals, and Unit B (administrators) will proceed; the $100,000 remains in the committee's budget line pending negotiation outcomes.
The public comments prompted multiple committee members to ask clarifying questions and request additional data. Members also noted the district has used one-time federal grants previously to fund recurring positions and that contract negotiations typically follow public-body procedures and require multiple readings before policy changes.
The committee will take up bargaining with the EEA in January; no final wage decision was made at the Dec. 19 meeting.
